WHAT IS FREEDOM?
“NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE”
WHAT DOES FREEDOM MEAN TO YOU?
HERE IS A LIST OF WORDS I HAVE COME UP WITH:
.. FREE
.. RELEASED
.. BEING YOURSELF
.. NO OPPRESSION
.. LOVE
.. LISTENED TO
.. APPRECIATED
.. UNDERSTOOD
THE LIST GOES ON………………………
WHAT CAN WE DO FOR OURSELVES? HOW CAN PILATES CONTRIBUTE TO OUR OWN SENSE OF
FREEDOM?? 4 KNOWN FACTS
.. EDUCATION OF THE BODY _ gives us a sense of knowing who we are structurally
STRUCTURE: Anatomy [alignment of bones, muscles]; ex. how the legs and torso are connected to
form the network of abdominal muscles = CORE
.. EXERCISES _ that help define our muscles strengthen our core. All PILATES EXERCISES target the
abdominal network. Always pulling the lower half of the body [legs,pelvis] and upper body
[torso, head], working them through the muscular pully system. Lengthening andstretching.
.. MENTAL AWARENESS_ being able to ask ourselves how we are doing and what to look for mentally
and physically (called CHECKING IN). For example, shallow breathing, tense as opposed tight muscles, clenching jaw muscles/headaches.
Our minds need to check these aspects first before we go to the very important exercise, DEEP BREATHING!!
The question is, Can we feel our breathing, is it in just our chest area or are we breathing deeply?
Some of us have not stopped long enough to know.
Finding the depth of our breathing, tells us our level of being CALM and RELAXED. These are the 2
check in words.
.. MENTAL AND PHYSICAL PEACE
Working on some of these give us FREEDOM in just knowing how we are put together.
Being able to Relax through breathing and movement in the series of Pilates
exercises gives release from stress, alleviating tight, tense muscles, raising confidence etc.
Due to Pilates structure, the focus it requires and the exercises have proved to be
helping people with PTSD symptoms.
