If you ask AI what the benefits of stretching are, you might get a response similar to this: “Stretching regularly increases joint flexibility, improves your overall range of motion, and enhances blood circulation to your muscles. These physical benefits make everyday tasks easier, reduce the risk of muscle and joint injuries, and help alleviate chronic tension and stiffness.”
But when you actually spend time stretching, what will you feel in your body?
In a 50-minute stretch class, your body will go through so many different phases. You will start off tight, maybe a little stiff, and it might be slightly uncomfortable as you start moving. Your body slowly warms up, your joints will move more easily, you can feel your heart beating a little faster, and you will find it more comfortable to push yourself a little harder. Toward the end, you might even feel a stiff muscle release tension or the sore spot in your back begin to alleviate.
Those are wonderful physical benefits, but what about the mental benefits?
While we stretch, we tend to breathe more deeply naturally, and that triggers your body's natural relaxation response. As your mind relaxes and receives the extra oxygen from diaphragmatic breaths, maybe your anxiety from the day decreases slightly. Maybe you hear the thoughts from the world quieting. Maybe you feel less stress than when you started. We live our lives on the move—how often are we able to stop and reset?
One of my favorite aspects of Pilates is the ability to focus my mind on only Pilates for the 50 minutes we are in class. This isn’t a secret—Pilates is mental. I tell people all the time that you need to quiet the outside noise and focus on your body while we are in class. The mind-body connection is essential. This does wonders for me because I am able to shut down the never-ending to-do list and the problems that I know are waiting for me when I leave the studio, but we are still mentally stimulated by our practice. When I spend 50 minutes in a stretch class, I feel like my brain is truly getting a break. I feel a mental recovery that allows me to refocus and realign.
Stretching and Pilates are natural partners. I highly encourage you to add more deep stretching to your wellness routine; the benefits continue well beyond the studio. If you would like some ideas on how to add stretching to your routine, please join me Monday evenings at 6:30, where we spend the entire 50 minutes focusing on stretching, and I even give you ideas on ways to continue at home.
Thank you for allowing me to be there through all your Phases,
April