SPRING INTO Action

As seasonal changes refresh the natural world, our worn-out lifestyles should follow. By introducing Pilates and yoga into our daily routines, Georgia Beard reveals how we can transform physically and psychologically.

Every time the Sunshine Coast flourishes into spring, I find myself shying away like a flower drawing its petals closed.

While natural environments and people around me embrace change, I cling to all the comforts of cold weather.

My winter-induced habits are just too hard to break. Succumbing to a warm cocoon of blankets and convincing myself I’ll get up early tomorrow; hiding in my home with takeaway and TV; swapping exercise in the cool air for long, hot showers.

When I give in to these guilty pleasures, I love myself for it. My body, however, is desperate for healthy transformation.

As spring encourages renewal and regrowth for wildlife, our bodies should respond in the same way. Because maintaining our physical and mental health is not a chore – it’s an act of love.

Rather than sifting through a mass of exercise regimes, mindfulness techniques and health advice columns, we can transform both our minds and bodies with a wellness-oriented approach to fitness.

Pilates draws our focus to various areas of the body through low-impact movement and core strength training.

Unlike exercise targeted to one muscle group, it provides an all-encompassing workout and a deeper understanding of our bodily connections.

Similarly, yoga connects the mind and body through breathwork, balance and movement, with meditation and spirituality at its core.

Although Pilates is grounded in modern physical anatomy and yoga in ancient holistic discipline, the two often overlap. When they do, the result is a newfound unity between mind, body and spirit.

FS8 Coolum fosters this unity from their beachside fitness studio, combining the best elements of Pilates, yoga and tone for an all-in-one exercise experience. This is a workout worth getting out of bed for, especially when you get to see the sun rise over the sea from the stunning studio space overlooking Coolum Beach.

Alongside trainees of all ages and abilities, you’ll experience short but strenuous bursts of exercise using the Pilates reformer, mat work, dumbbells and activation bands. These highintensity, integrated workouts sweat out the mental muck and hone your strength, stability and flexibility.

Classes such as FS8 Reform, FS8 Dynamic, FS8 Ultra and FS8 Restore each take a different focus, from muscular and cardiovascular endurance to full-body conditioning and awareness to restorations of balance and equilibrium.

As you pump through the session, staff will be on hand to tailor your workout, guide you step-by-step through the exercises, refine your form and challenge your abilities.

Every exercise shapes your physical and psychological wellbeing, developing enough mental clarity to re-examine your lifestyle. Before you know it, old habits fade, and guilty pleasures lose their appeal.

As you make room for Pilates and yoga in your daily routine, the next step is filling the gaps with more compatible behaviour.

Sleep-ins become neighbourhood runs in the early daylight hours; indulgent snacks make way for healthy, homemade meals. A distracted, restless mind finds stable ground, connecting with the lives and landscapes around it.

As you long as you stay consistent, this is a bodily transformation the seasons could never reverse.