Member-only story
The Mind-Body Connection is Key
How exactly does your body benefit from the body-mind connection, a.k.a. Fitness IQ?
While teaching my Pilates group classes, I have noticed some tendencies among the new members: they come in, lie down on the reformer, and “zone out.” I can see that their minds are not in the studio, but somewhere else. However, the long-time members know very well that it is my biggest pet peeve when someone takes a class without being present, so they make sure to stay present and connect their minds with their bodies to create a mind-muscle connection. Why is this connection so important? Well, think about it: how can you be fully in charge of your body if your mind is preoccupied with trying to make a decision about what to make for dinner, mentally arguing with your boss about what happened at the staff meeting that day, or simply letting go and pretending that your Pilates class is a relaxing massage (all the while hoping that your muscles will miraculously do what the instructor is asking them to do)?
I firmly believe that, with practice, anyone can develop their Fitness IQ: their ability to recognize what their body needs, control the movements of each body part (legs, arms, torso), and distinguish good pain from bad pain. They must, however, be willing to listen to their body. The problem is, like my newest pupils, not everyone truly wants to be in charge of their…
