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Are You Ready to Boost Your Core Power?

By Kee Chan

Pilates movements focus on the core – the powerhouse of the mind and body. Pilates is designed to improve physical strength, flexibility, and posture, using a set of low-impact exercises. How does Pilates boost power in our brain and muscles?

The brain is continuously making new neural connections throughout your life. Your brain cells can regenerate, adjust to a new situation (such as learning a new Pilates move), and adapt to a new environment (such as using props or resistance bands).

When you practice a Pilate movement over and over again, this helps the brain to form and strengthen connections for movement. When you add a ‘new movement’ on top of your Pilates routine, your mind lights up, and new neuron cells are formed, connected and extended. Learning new habits and making changes require your body to be in tune with your brain.
What’s the science behind this?

The “old science” used to say that the structure of the brain doesn’t change and that we are born with a set number of brain cells at birth. Our cells are depleted over time when we age due to stress, toxins, and risky behavior.

However, new research studies support that the brain is plastic and is always growing and evolving. We are not “creatures of habits” and stuck in our old ways. The brain changes based on how we think, feel, eat, act and react. The brain changes in function and structure. New neural connections are formed and connected in many different regions of the brain. Pilates trains the brain to be adaptive and is flexible to new mindful movements.

Five ways to boost your core power with Pilates.

1. Add a new exercise to your routine.

2. Be engaged in practicing exercises.

3. Learn in order to help the brain be stable and reduce ‘noise’ in our heads.

4. Understand that repetition is key. Initial change is temporary until new connections are made.

5. Believe that core power has always been within you.

Kee Chan is a public health scientist who teaches the art and science of wellness and is a certified Pilates and Barre instructor. She incorporates mindfulness and meditation into her classes and offers Pilates at Elle on Thursdays at 5:15pm.