A Deep Dive Into Pilates Part Three: Concentration

“Concentrate on the correct movement each time you exercise, lest you do them improperly and thus lose all vital benefits.”

~ Joseph Pilates

Have you ever found it difficult to stay focused long enough to get through a challenging task?  Or perhaps you find that you are becoming more easily distracted and forgetful? 

Concentration is the ability to control your attention - to focus the mind on one subject, object, or thought, and at the same time exclude from the mind every other unrelated thought, idea, feeling, and sensation.

Attention span and concentration can decrease for a number of reasons. Head or brain injuries, such as concussion, as well as certain mental health conditions can result in a deficit in concentration.  It can also be as simple as our environment, our lifestyle, aging, and lack of sleep.  Our modern world is full of stress, chaos, and distraction. Frequent distractions affect productivity. It takes longer to finish a task, it's harder to listen, and we struggle to comprehend. This can often result in misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and conflicts. Changes in concentration also affect our memory. We forget things or can’t recall information promptly which can affect our personal and professional lives. The good news is that concentration can be exercised and improved. While we might consider meditation as a way to practice concentration, it often goes unrecognized that there are certain exercise regimens that can also give us the same result. 

Through the principle of concentration, we begin to see the mind-body connection of Pilates, and why it is often referred to as a mindfulness based exercise regimen. During a Pilates class or session, clients are asked to focus inward and connect with their body - to learn about their anatomy, to align their bodies in a certain way, to initiate action from a certain place, and to work on recruiting and releasing the right muscles for efficient performance of the task. They gain the ability to take conscious control and re-educate the body to move correctly, identifying compensatory patterns that they have adopted over the years, and undoing the damage that unconscious stress and immobility inflict.

It is not surprising that many of our clients are both physically and mentally tired after their first few Pilates sessions as they start to exercise their concentration and ability to focus. However, clients learn quickly how to quiet their minds and block outside distractions. They work on being 100% in the present - focused, listening, and learning about the nuances of their bodies. After the session, having had a one hour "break" from the day to day hustle, many clients report feeling relaxed, energized, and refocused. Clients are encouraged to begin applying this form of mindfulness to all that they do. This improves ability, function, and quality of life.

In explaining the third guiding principle of concentration, Joseph Pilates liked to quote Friedrich Schiller:

“It is the mind itself which builds the body."

Kim Willment, a neuropsychologist with Brigham and Women's Hospital states that, “Practicing mindfulness has been shown to rewire the brain so that attention is stronger in everyday life. There is evidence that a person's ability to pay attention can be improved by progressively pushing the person to higher levels of performance. So if you reach a certain level of sustained attention, pushing it to the next level can help improve it, and this may translate to everyday life."

The Brain Benefits of Pilates 

https://pilatesbridge.com/12-scientifically-proven-benefits-of-pilates-for-your-peace-of-mind/

Improves memory & intelligence
Trains your brain
Improves nervous system function
Helps you to manage stress & emotions
Makes you happier
Increases creativity
Increases confidence

The first step to strengthening your concentration is to recognize when you need to. If you are struggling to meet commitments, constantly getting sidetracked by the unimportant, or not moving toward your aspirations, it is time to incorporate some new strategies into your lifestyle. Pilates is as much of an exercise for the mind as it is for the body. By exercising our focus and concentration in the work of improving body awareness, movement patterning, and motor control, clients are able to progress from processing one cue or concept to processing many at the same time.  As a result a higher level of physical execution, flow, and efficiency can be attained. 

When I first started this business I was traveling to clients' homes to provide physical therapy and Pilates services. There was a moment that I still clearly remember to this day. 

We had just finished our session and I was getting ready to leave.

As I was walking towards the door my client said, “You know what the best part of this Pilates is?"

I turned around to listen.

“It makes me feel strong, deep inside.  So when something hard happens, whether it is physically or mentally challenging, there’s something inside me now that says, ‘I’ve got this’.” 

That was one of the most memorable comments a client has ever said to me.  Because I know that what they were describing wasn’t just about muscles being strong.  The feeling they were describing was coming from another place.  A place where the body, mind, and spirit come together in a very important and meaningful way.  Pilates offers so much more than sets and reps.  It is an exploration and enhancement of the complete being that will improve the quality of a life in every way.  I say this because I witness it daily with our clients. I am so grateful to be a part of this work and to have found a true sense of purpose in sharing it with others. 
 

Expect nothing less than feeling your best. 

Sincerely,
Shellie