Beyond Pilates La

reposting because the first time it reversed the order of songs

My KM playlist My KM playlist · Playlist · 6 songs

I had to send my beloved cat over the rainbow bridge on Feb. 13th, I am not allowed to get another cat as long as I live in this apt. So, going into the pandemic crisis I had been in grief mode for about a month. At some point I began to realize I was coming out of grief, but a disconnected numbness remained in its place. Then in the last two weeks, the protests here in LA were all around where I live, not close enough to worry about my safety in my neighborhood, but close enough to most definitely feel the tension and anxiety. I find I cannot sit quietly in meditation these days. Yesterday I remembered something I used to do, but have let slide too much lately. Since I am not a yoga person, but wanted some of the benefits, I found a way to make my Pilates exercises meditative. I also consciously used driving (actually stopping at a light) to trigger me ( in a good way) to check in on my posture, make corrections, then notice what I was thinking as I approached the light. Usually my thoughts were not the most positive. With practice it soon became easier to notice my random thoughts and pair that with attention to my body. I noticed my thoughts beginning to be more positive and I began to more easily release tension I was unconsciously holding in my body. Just the decision to get back to that practice has already had a small positive effect, both physically and emotionally.
If you are like me, not so much a yoga person, but looking for an alternative to help calm your mind, your body and your emotions... please comment below or message me, I'd love to share with you what I call Kinetic Meditation.

I am interested in the challenges people face physically as they age. What are some challenges you have with balance, posture, flexibility. Can you remember a time when you wish you'd had better balance? Might you be experiencing the effects of "text neck"? Do you have a story? Please share, I'd love to hear it.

Pilates can help boost the immune system. even more important now. check out this article to see how Pilates can help.

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How Pilates Helps to Boost Immunity and Wellbeing
by Lynne Robinson(more info)
listed in pilates, originally published in issue 237 - April 2017
Famous for improving posture, joint mobility and core stability, can we can add to the list of benefits better health and immunity? The answer is a resounding ‘yes’. In addition to working on your musculoskeletal system, Pilates exercises also help you cope with stress and help to make your lymphatic and respiratory systems more efficient.
Let’s start with the immune system. Your lymphatic and respiration systems are crucial to your 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, viruses and cancerous cells. When we’re stressed, the immune system’s ability to fight off antigens is reduced. That is why we are more susceptible to infections and potentially cancer.
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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 nutrients can reach the cells. Lymph is the fluid that contains the toxins, so lymph has to be removed and cleaned. Toxins are filtered out by lymph nodes situated all around the body (mostly by our joints). The lymph is then carried by vessels back to the thoracic ducts (just by the collarbones), where the cleaned lymph is returned to the bloodstream.
What Happens in a Pilates Class 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. Instead, 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 Scarf Breathing Sitting Exhalation
Pilates Scarf Breathing Sitting Exhalation
Pilates breathing is another key factor in good health. One of the first things you learn in a Pilates class is how to breathe better, as most of us breathe far too shallowly. You must create space for the ribs to expand, by standing or sitting tall, then breathe wide and deep into your back and sides, thus maximising lung capacity. To breathe correctly you must completely exhale and inhale, always trying very hard to ‘squeeze’ every atom of impure air from your lungs in much the same manner that you would wring every drop of water from a wet cloth.’ . 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.’ Below we have given you some breathing exercises to do. Practice these on their own and then remember this new efficient way of breathing as you do the other exercises.
The link between chronic prolonged stress and illness is well known and anyone who does regular Pilates will be familiar with its beneficial impact on mental health.. For me there is a moment, normally about 5 minutes into a session, when suddenly I feel in control of everything (not just my alignment, breathing and core) and the world seems a better place.
And whilst Pilates devotees have enjoyed this calming effect for years, we’ve never really known why it happens. But in August 2016 neuroscientists at the University of Pittsburgh* discovered something which may explain why Pilates , yoga and meditation help us cope with mental, emotional and physical stress.
The Pittsburgh researchers traced the neural circuitry that links areas of the cerebral cortex to the adrenal medulla (part of the adrenal gland) . Their experiments revealed multiple cortical areas with the biggest influences arising from motor areas. The relevance of this is linked to our ’fight or flight’ response to stressful situations. Stress these days tends to be more subtle than the woolly mammoths our ancestors faced and requires more subtle responses. (best not to throw a spear at your bank manager!)
“Because we have a cortex we have options. If someone insults you, you don’t have to punch them or flee. You might have a more nuanced response and ignore the insult or make a witty comeback. These options are part of what the cerebral cortex provides.” says Peter L Strick PhD Thomas Detre Chair of Neurobiology and scientific director of the University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute. Interestingly, the research revealed that it is the motor areas in the cerebral cortex involved in the planning and performance of movement that provide significant input to the adrenal medulla. And one of these areas is the primary motor cortex that, in turn, also controls axial body movement and posture. No wonder we feel so relaxed after a session. Even a few exercises done thoughtfully can promote feelings of calm and happiness.
Joseph Pilates. Return to Life through Contrology. Bodymind Publishing. 1998.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences August 2016.