Reduce Stress with Mindful Movement

Mindfulness

One of the best ways to reduce stress or anxiety, or feeling overwhelmed, is mindfulness.

Mindfulness is simply focusing being present in the moment. This helps us avoid thinking about those things out of our control or that are stress inducing yet not effecting us directly, right now.

Easier said than done, I know!

One way to practice mindfulness is to focus on the breath. You’ll find plenty of practices to support this and I’ve uploaded an easy breath meditation that can help with this on the Azulfit YouTube channel.

Movement:

For me one of the best ways to practice mindfulness is through movement.

My two loves, Pilates and surfing, both demand a sense of presence and focus and help me to get out of my monkey mind and to find some much needed space and clarity.

I think this is why I love the way the classical work leads us through an order of exercises. For me personally I like that I know where I am, what exercise and movement got me there, but also with an understanding of what is to come, without having to really stop and over think between exercises.

But, that’s just my personal preference, you don’t have to follow a classical repertoire to still be mindful and find some well deserved head space.

How to Move Mindfully:

You can try a few pre planned exercises or movements and flow between them, or even, take a moment within just one exercise to really feel the movement and experience every part. 

Breathing as we move can also help. It not only helps with the execution of the movement, but can also help us become absorbed into it.

This can take us away from our daily stresses to find some mental space, even just for a moment.

That’s the power of  Pilates therapy in action!

Whatever your practice is, I hope this helps. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or want to share some thoughts on this.

You can find some simple movement videos and Pilates sequences to follow and be mindful in both on the Azulfit YouTube channel or visit www.pilatesanytime.com and use code: ISAAC for a free trial.