One of the things I love about Pilates is that it helps me slow down. I am not the world’s most patient person, so I tend to go as close to warp speed as possible most of the time. This is not entirely sustainable, so I am grateful, again, to Uncle Joe for his help.
Two particular aspects of Pilates make it conducive to a more sensible tempo for me, and maybe I’m not alone in this. Pilates moves with the breath. While it is possible to breathe fast enough to do a set of chest lifts or femur arcs or Russian splits at the pace I often want to get them done, it’s not very pleasant. Allowing the breath to facilitate the motions almost automatically slows things to a more manageable level. It also keeps me from hyperventilating!
The other part of Pilates that helps me tune in to a more leisurely, enjoyable experience is the integration it demands between body and mind. My body, left to itself, will flail around at its top speed. When I have to be more precise and more thoughtful about the quality of the motion, everything takes longer. Pilates is not about getting it done; it’s about getting it done right.
We all, I think, need a little more space in our lives. Pilates, by helping us unplug from the high-velocity activities of the day, makes that space possible.
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