By Noémie, Certified Pilates Instructor at Wholistic Osteopathy and Wellness, Vancouver
Introduction: Movement as Expression
When I was younger, I often wondered how my dance teacher could tell when something was off mentally just by watching the way I moved. Dance was my escape from anxiety—a time to focus entirely on my movements and forget everything else. It was how I expressed emotions I couldn’t put into words.
But on some days, even when I was determined to give my best, my thoughts would take over and my movements wouldn’t flow. That’s when my teacher would notice—I seemed more stressed or distracted.
It wasn’t until I started practicing Pilates that I truly understood how our mental state influences movement—and how working on physical strength can bring clarity and balance.
1. Building Body Awareness
One of the key benefits of Pilates is learning how to connect with and listen to your body. As a teacher, I want to help my clients not just strengthen their muscles, but also become more in tune with themselves.
Everyone has different levels of awareness when it comes to movement. By simply asking how you feel after each exercise, you begin to pay attention to what your body is actually doing. This is the first step toward building body awareness.
Once that awareness is established, it creates a positive cycle: the more you feel what’s happening, the more control you have. Without that connection, Pilates can become overwhelming—especially when targeting specific muscles that may be hard to access, like the deep core.
The beauty of Pilates is that you start wherever you are. Whether you’re a beginner or have years of experience, it helps you build a stronger mind-body bond from the inside out.
2. The Role of Breathing in Pilates
Breathing is often overlooked, but it’s a fundamental part of Pilates. In recent years, breathwork has become more integrated into meditation, yoga, and wellness practices—and with good reason. Breath is powerful.
When paired with movement, breath enhances efficiency and allows you to activate your muscles correctly. It helps you find moments of relaxation when needed, and provides energy to push through challenging exercises.
Breathing also calms the mind. It clears distractions, centers your thoughts, and deepens your awareness of how your body moves. In this way, breathing strengthens the mind-body connection and supports every part of your Pilates practice.
3. Core Engagement and Deep Muscle Activation
A common misconception is that core work is just about the six-pack muscles. In Pilates, we focus on activating the deeper core layers—like the transversus abdominis and pelvic floor—that support the spine and pelvis.
Activating these deep muscles improves posture, balance, and stability. But many people unknowingly brace or overuse superficial muscles, which can lead to compensation or injury.
Pilates helps you build true strength through subtle, precise engagement. For example, in postpartum recovery, reconnecting with deep core muscles through breath and mindful activation is essential to healing issues like diastasis recti or pelvic floor weakness.
Strengthening these inner muscles also has a preventive effect. It supports better alignment and movement efficiency in daily life and exercise—reducing injury risk and improving performance.
4. Preventing Injury Through Alignment and Awareness
Pilates teaches you how to move with intention. It’s not just about flexibility or strength—it’s about alignment and control.
By learning to recognize tension and discomfort, you can adjust your movements in real time and avoid pushing your body beyond its limits. This self-awareness is key to injury prevention and promotes long-term physical and mental well-being.
Whether you’re an athlete, a new parent, or someone looking to feel better in your body, Pilates offers tools to move with more confidence and less strain.
Conclusion: Strengthening the Mind-Body Connection
Through my experience with dance and now with Pilates, I’ve learned how deeply our physical state affects our mental well-being. Pilates teaches body awareness, breath control, and core engagement, helping to build both strength and mental clarity.
Improving posture and preventing injury can foster a deeper connection to yourself. It strengthens the body and enhances mental resilience, making you more in tune with your overall well-being.
If you’re ready to feel more connected to your body and discover the benefits of Pilates for your physical and mental wellness, I’d love to guide you through your journey.
Discover the Benefits of Pilates at Wholistic Osteopathy and Wellness:
- Build a stronger mind-body connection
- Improve core strength and posture
- Enhance movement efficiency and body control
- Reduce stress and promote emotional balance
- Prevent injury and increase long-term mobility
Many extended health plans cover Pilates-based rehab services!
➔ Book your session with Noémie today at Wholistic Osteopathy and Wellness, Vancouver
Now offering appointments 7 days a week, including evenings and weekends.
