Wellbeing - Pilates

DID YOU KNOW THAT PILATES CAN BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM?

When studying immunity, most people look at their nutrition and lifestyle choices. It’s common knowledge that a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, healthy fats and proteins can have immune-boosting properties. Poor lifestyle choices such as excessive alcohol consumption and smoking contribute to lower immune health. However, exercise can be a powerful contributor in boosting the body’s immune system. Gentle, precise forms of exercise such as Pilates, which combine breathing and physical techniques are especially beneficial. Pilates exercises also help you cope with stress and help to make your lymphatic and respiratory systems more efficient. Our lymphatic and respiration systems are crucial to our immune system. The immune system is a collection of billions of cells that travel through the bloodstream. These cells move in and out of tissues and organs, defending the body against foreign bodies (antigens), such as bacteria and viruses. When we’re stressed, the immune system’s ability to fight off antigens is reduced. That is why we are more susceptible to infections. Our lymphatic system is basically our body’s waste disposal system. During normal metabolic processes, cells produce waste products, which need to be removed so that the cells can stay healthy and good nutrients can reach the cells.

What Happens in a Pilates Session to Improve your Immunity?

Although it has millions of vessels just like the blood system, the lymphatic system has no strong pump to keep lymph moving. The lymph is moved by breathing, walking, intestinal activity, and muscle action. The rhythmic movements of a Pilates session stimulate blood flow and lymph flow. Throughout your Pilates class, as your muscles contract and release, lymph vessels are squeezed and lymph is pushed along and filtered through lymph nodes on its way back to the veins and the heart. Pilates breathing is another important factor in good health. One of the first things you learn in a Pilates is how to breathe better, as most of us ‘shallow breathe’. We need to create space for the ribs to expand, then breathe wide and deep into your back and sides maximising our lung capacity. Joseph Pilates wrote that this type of breathing ‘supplies the blood stream with vitally necessary life-giving oxygen … and stimulates all muscles into greater activity. Therefore, above

all, learn to breathe correctly.’

It is no wonder we feel so relaxed after a session. Even a few exercises done correctly and thoughtfully can promote feelings of calm and happiness and ultimately relieves stress. So, the next time you finish your Pilates exercise class, you can walk away knowing that you not only made your muscles stronger, and balanced your mind and your body, but you’ve also boosted your immune system, which will work to keep you healthy as well!

To find a qualified teacher, visit the Body Control Pilates website Jules Hardman Body Control Pilates Teacher www.jules-pilates-alderleyedge.co.uk

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