Reduce Stress And Get Fit With Pilates

Not only is Pilates good for the body but it is also beneficial for the mind and soul. By putting the focus on breathing and concentrating on muscle groups you are able to reduce stress. Many people with chronic illness have high levels of stress and get very little exercise. Pilates can help you with both.

The Pilates exercise regimen unites your body and mind and also gives you discipline. All these will have positive benefits to your health and well being. Stress brings many chemical changes to your body. It increases blood flow to the larger muscles and slows digestion as it prepares the body for "fight or flight" mode. Your blood vessels restrict and sugar rises. Many hormones are switched into off position. If this were primitive times and there was real danger than this would be a good thing. However much of todays stress has more to do with day to day living such as problems at work or debt piling up.

Many people end up in the hospital from stress related diseases. Stress wreaks havoc on your immune system as it slows healing and most of all prevents wellness. Wellness is not the opposite of illness. It is more than just the lack of sickness; it is an overall well-being that affects both the mental and the physical aspects of life. Many adverse habits develop because of stress and lack of wellness.

The use of focus in Pilates develops the mind to a point that it stops the cycle of worry and stress. Much like any mental exercise that allows the individual more control of thought patterns, Pilates offers a way to change your focus and relieve the stress.

Pilates releases the body from the flight or fight mode by mimicking the activity of both. Exercise is a proven method of stress control, when combined with the activity of mental control and focus on breathing, the quick return of stress is unlikely and the cycle is broken for that period.

It is no surprise that studies link a reduction of disease with exercise. A study at the University of Calgary and the University of Ottowa showed a decrease in blood sugar when patients with type two diabetics exercised. The decrease translated into a reduction of heart attack and diabetic kidney and eye disease. Other studies show a reduction of 40 percent in mortality rate for diabetics. Lack of activity is one of the biggest risk factors in heart disease. Being overweight is another. Pilates reduces both risks and is a heart healthy activity. Stress is also linked to tumor growth in cancer victims. While there is no study that shows psychological stress creates cancer, there are many that shows it impairs the immune system and creates an environment conducive to cancer.

It seems pretty simple. Take a Pilates course, work out three times a week, live not only longer but also better. The activity is good for the body, the training is good for the soul and the results on appearance are fantastic for the spirit. Devote a small portion of time to exercise and regain hours in healthy stress-free living. You'll find that the day's stresses melt away and you feel better than you ever felt before, after just a few months of training.

Article Source: http://www.orbitaloc.com/

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