Canceled trips, home office, social isolation. All of this has become a reality in recent months – a period in which Brazil and the rest of the world have been facing the new coronavirus pandemic. With the constant updates that are flooding the media, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and even a little scared. And as many people have been told to work from home, feelings of loneliness are also intensified. However, while it is normal to feel powerless during this period, there are many things you can do to continue taking care of your physical health and, most importantly, your mental health. One of them is physical exercise.
Among the various options of activities that we can practice at this moment, is pilates – a set of exercises focused on controlling body movements, focused on the distribution of strength of the pelvic floor, stomach and back muscles.
Pilates to fight anxiety Particularly useful for when you spend more time at home and sitting or lying down for long periods of time, this method can quickly strengthen your muscles and give you a feeling of well-being. Practicing pilates on a regular basis has numerous benefits, including: Trains the whole body Adaptable to many fitness levels and needs Increases flexibility Improves posture Increases the body’s energy Promotes weight loss and improves self-esteem Increases awareness and connection between body and mind Decreases tension and fatigue Slows down degenerative and aging processes Keeps the mind alert and revitalizes the body.
I, as a physiotherapist and pilates practitioner, took the opportunity to separate three basic types of exercises for those who also want to start. For beginners, I suggest performing each of the movements below 30 seconds to a minute, at most. volume_upcontent_copysharestar_border
Thus, the practice of this activity still contributes to prevent and combat stress and anxiety. In addition, it decreases the disordered production of harmful hormones and helps in the synthesis of beneficial neurotransmitters, such as endorphin, which brings a sense of well-being. This combination of actions ends up reducing the physical and emotional symptoms caused by the tense moment we are going through. The concentration required during practice is another reason to keep problems out of the mind and lessen stress. Pilates exercises at home Although the gyms and pilates studios are closed at this moment, it is possible to find free video lessons on the internet and start practicing this activity at home