Grounded For Life: Pilates, Trees & Self- Esteem

They key to why Pilates is such an effective exercise system is that it primarily focuses on stability before flexibility & mobility. It gently works the body from the inside out, activating the deepest unseen muscles first, the ones that root the skeletal system into the correct and most stable position.

To illustrate this it’s best to draw from the analogy of a tree. The fascinating thing about tree roots is that even though the roots are beneath the ground, they are also the reason that the tree grows. Majestic trees grow outward with free abandon, but they always know that they have deep roots, that they are grounded. To establish these healthy tree roots it’s necessary to have water, oxygen and good soil.

In Pilates the tree roots are established by breath, mental focus and working with an instructor who has structural knowledge of the body. By activating these deep structural muscles, often with very basic yet precise movement patterns, the body becomes stable, less prone to injury and better aligned. This allows faster progress so that when difficult movements are introduced, the body is rooted within it’s core.

In life, we liken the deep roots of a tree and the core stability of Pilates to being grounded. When you’re grounded, you have a deeper awareness of your mental and emotional self, and not swayed by life’s small mishaps. Grounded people are attractive as they make us feel safe, protected and calm.

It comes from a healthy self-esteem, deep values and emotional intelligence. Like nature and our bodies, it’s something we can cultivate with consistent practice.

Of course, every so often a tree gets uprooted in a strong storm, our bodies become injured and life throw’s an unexpected curve ball…it’s that sense of being ungrounded. When that happens, head back into nature and surround yourself among the trees, move your body gently and breath deep, and ask your deepest self… “how can this help me grow ?”.

Nigel Sampson

WBM Co-founder