Mind Over Matter

How many times have I heard clients say, "I just can't do that!" or "My body doesn't do that!" or again, "This exercise doesn't work for me!"? Honestly, I don't know how many times I heard clients say something along those lines over the nine years I've been teaching Pilates! Needless to say it's far too common in my humble opinion. In my Pilates practice, nobody is allowed to limit themselves in such ways but can say, "It's not happening yet!" or "Not today but maybe next week!" Why do I set such rules? I believe, as Bartenieff believed, that the mind rules the body. The central nervous system is the master controller over the human body and determines its abilities, capabilities and limitations. True, injuries can created scar tissue that prevents full healing of the injured tissues, however, to adopt the attitude that the area in question is disabled forever will ensure that normal form and function will never be restored. Furthermore, to limit physical activity using the chronic injury as an excuse will actually further exacerbate the limitation until all forms of exercise and body conditioning must be stopped. Now this is a catch-22 isn't it? The muscles need to work to gain and maintain strength. Strong muscles greatly enahnce the bones' absorption of calcium. Exercise which generates heat in the body helps eliminate toxic elements as well as kill viral and bacterial infections in their early stages. Furthermore, light cardiovascular exercise speeds up the vascular and lymphatic systems which help eliminate toxins faster and prevent excess buildup of fatty tissues, all the while strenghthening the heart. Do you stop all such activities? If so, how do you expect to enjoy the retirement years in a weakened body riddled with chronic pain and old injuries? It is a downward spiral which can greatly reduce one's quality of life and it can be changed!

When dealing with a chronic injury, it is important to remember that healing the suboptimal tissues requires a multifaceted approach including nutrition to support the healing process (i.e. increased essential fatty acids, minerals and vitamins intake), release work to learn how to let go of excess tension in the muscles simply through thought and mindful movement, and exercise that restores joint alignment, strength and flexibility to the muscular system. Furthermore, such an exercise system must be geared towards integrating the extremities with the core, creating a space where the participant can learn to recruit the muscles in the most efficient manner while coordinating the postural muscles of the trunk with the muscles that move and stabilize the extremities (i.e. arms & legs). The regular practice of Pilates helps to balance as well as restore form and function to the muscular system, which in turn pulls the joints closer to the ideal alignment which leads to a free-flowing vascular, lymphatic and nervous system; when your body functions this way, healing chronic injuries is definitely a possibility! It all begins with a thought and your thoughts will determine your body's ability to overcome what has been labelled 'chronic'.