Learning Pilates Can Improve Your Brain Health

Did you know that learning Pilates can improve your brain health? You might know that exercise in general is good for your mind; it is an excellent stress reliever, after all. But there is another aspect to bettering your mind with exercise, and it comes down to whether you’re passively following a routine or actively engaging in it. The latter is key – you need to actually take part in the learning. 

Passive Pilates?

Okay, there is nothing really “passive” about Pilates. In the beginning, you have to learn all the exercises, the apparatuses, and how the studio works. It’s a lot to take in, and is one of the reasons we do a three-session Introduction to Pilates before new students join regular classes. What you do after that is really up to you. 

In many classical studios, the instructors teach the exercises in the same order that Joseph Pilates taught them. That was how I was taught in my first few years of Pilates, and how I myself taught for many years. In these circumstances, you could be more passive in your workouts and just follow the cues, moving from exercise to exercise.

Then I attended some Pilates sessions that were different. In these classes, we were all still doing the same workout at the same time, but we were given a bit less instruction and were told what was coming up next. In this way, you could go at your own pace and maybe even get ahead of others a bit. It felt like things flowed more, and there was no waiting on others. The teachers gave us cues as we each needed and they were some of the sweatiest Pilates workouts I’d ever done. It was helpful to know the exercises and the order they went in, but we were still “listening to the teacher”. 

A Different Type of Pilates Workout

As I started learning more in teacher workshops and trainings, I was taught about how Joseph Pilates’ clients would come to the studio, pay their fee, and go on to do their own individual workout. This was new to me! 

They would have been taught a group of exercises on the mat, reformer, chair, pedipul, and/or spine corrector for whatever their body needed. The student would then practice these exercises until they were really good at them, when more exercises would be added to their repertoire. Each person had a personalized program. 

This is very similar to what happens at many gyms. At one gym I used to workout at, we would have one trainer for a group of 4 people. Each of us had our own workout program that we changed up every four or five weeks. We’d go off and work out on our own, while the trainer observed, giving us tips and answering any questions. They’d also give progressions and regressions as needed or to help us meet our goals. I could be working out with an elite athlete, someone completely new to fitness, and a recreational athlete in my group – just like in Joseph Pilates’ studio. 

Active Pilates 

I love this more personalized, active type of Pilates class. It actually makes Pilates more accessible to more people at a wider variety of times because the session can have all levels in one class. This type of class could be called Joe’s Gym, an open gym, or a contrology workout. The roadblock for many people is that to participate, they need to start learning the names of the exercises and how to do them. 

After a few bumps in the road, b.Pilates & Fitness now has this type of class and clients are loving it, too! Just like Joe, we start with a few exercises and build up from there as they learn and remember more. The students are making better progress in their workouts, and by actively learning the exercises, they’re gaining a better understanding of both the method and their bodies. They are gaining more control and strength and becoming more aware of tight or sticky spots. 

Learn Pilates For Your Body & Brain

As you get better and better at those exercises, Pilates keeps getting more challenging – even the beginner exercises. You slowly but surely start making advances. Not everyone gets to the advanced level, but most get to the intermediate level. This is where you start to learn Pilates for better brain health, too. 

Learning a new skill like a language, an art form, playing an instrument, or an activity such as Pilates is very beneficial for brain health. When you do Pilates in a Joe’s Gym style or in a circuit, you need to know the exercise names, how to do them, and the set up of the apparatus. It’s a workout for your body and brain. This can help to improve memory, attention, and problem solving. Doing new things can help boost your mood and increase self esteem. You have a sense of purpose and goals to accomplish. Working your brain out can help your ability to handle stress and build resilience. Learning new things like Pilates is a powerful way to keep your brain healthy.