What do Pilates & Oreos have in common?

I don’t know about anybody else, but I’ve had my share of comfort foods this year! I’m not sure but I think that my hidden chocolate stash (hidden because I have 2 teenage boys) probably saved my sanity during quarantine time.  And let’s be real…when you can’t leave your house, there are no outside activities and pretty much you spend your days working at home and home schooling…baking (and eating) your favorite cookies, treats and meals can become a highlight of your days!

Luckily I had some good habits that I’ve turned to during this crazy time that seem to counter my comfort food indulgences, like Pilates! It has me thinking that in many way Pilates has been like a comfort food for me during the Pandemic! Who would have thought chocolate and Pilates would have so much in common? I made a list of how Pilates often gives me the same rewards as my favorite comfort foods!

Pilates feels good in your body and instantly gives your body a boost of “feel good”! Eating food high in fat, sugar or salt activates the brain’s reward system. Just like eating a comfort food like chocolate can have a strong effect on mood, generally increasing pleasant feelings and reducing tension, Pilates does the same! When you start moving mindfully, breathing on purpose and moving your body in ways that balance it out…it feels amazing, reduces stress and puts you in a better mood. You will find yourself craving that reward and luckily moving your body is a reward with no ill side effects. This is not always the case with our favorite comfort foods.

You know what to expect from Pilates. When you pop that double stuff Oreo into your mouth…you know exactly what you are going to taste before it even reaches your mouth. When it comes to Pilates as an exercise method you know what to expect. You can expect to do a whole body workout that always meets you where you are in your body on any given day. You know you’ll be working on core strength, breath and mobility in your body. You don’t have to worry about pushing yourself so hard that you’ll hurt yourself. You know you will be glad you took time for Pilates when you are done!

Pilates exercises are not fancy but effective. Usually our favorite comfort foods are nothing fancy…a piece of chocolate, macaroni and cheese, ice cream, or maybe potato chips?  Yet we know grabbing that simple food will give our body a quick sense calm and comfort. Pilates exercises are similar in that the exercises themselves are not super fancy, but oh are they effective. In fact if you look at people doing Pilates you might think… I used to practice that in gym class, I tried that exercise on a Jane Fonda tape, or I learned that from my physical therapist.    

The effectiveness of Pilates comes not from fancy movements but from learning how to execute simple movements in a really balanced way in your body. My upcoming workshop is going to be focused on how you can do those basic Pilates Mat exercises in a way that makes them more effective in your body and I think you’ll love getting to slow down and learn the details in these exercises!

This workshop will give you the chance to perfect the Pilates basics in your body whether you are new to Pilates or have been practicing for years. We’ll be using a resistance band for some of the exercises in the workshop. I love to teach some of the basic Pilates exercises with a resistance band, as I feel like the band can give support and feedback in a way that allows you to really understand the exercise. If you need a band you can get my favorite 5 foot supportive purple resistance band for half price when you purchase the workshop by using the code purple! Sign up here! The online training will be recorded – but the price goes to $35 on Monday!