Achieving Serenity

Although mindfulness has been around for millennia, it’s more important than ever in today’s tech-obsessed age. Not only will it help you feel more connected to your body (and benefit your Pilates practice), but research has shown that it’ll put you on the fast track to peace and happiness.

- Amanda Altman

CONTROL OVER THE MIND JUST MIGHT BE THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPT IN THE PILATES SYSTEM. As evidenced by these quotes from founder Joseph Pilates, the method is built on the idea of the body and the mind being inextricably connected; you can’t properly execute the exercises without focus and concentration.

Whether you’ve been practicing Pilates for years or just started learning, mastery of the mind over the body is your number-one goal. “One of the reasons I fell in love with Pilates is that Joe called it Contrology, the science of control,” recalls Pilates teacher Suzie Carmack, PhD, a well-being expert and the author of three books, including Genius Breaks: Optimize Your Workday Performance and Well-Being (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017). “If we can learn how to control the body, we can control the thought patterns in our mind—and vice versa.”

You can hone this skill outside of the studio, too. By tapping into mindfulness, an age-old approach rooted in Hindu and Buddhist contemplative traditions, not only will the quality of your movement benefit, but your overall well-being will be enhanced, too.

Why Mindfulness is Having a Moment As Joe recognized in his book, Return to Life, he was (clearly) ahead of his time. Today, however, the mind/body movement has become a physical culture in and of itself, thanks in part to our modern “go, go, go” lifestyle. “We’re so distracted, we’re not connected in a way that nourishes our souls,” says Julie Potiker, a Mindful Self Compassion teacher, mindfulness expert and author of