Natasha Menezes

Yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi are widely popular and practiced increasingly. Not only are they known for their mind-body connection, but they are also recognized as being some of the safest exercises you can practice, such that they are practiced by people of all demographics and with varying health and flexibility.

The key to these forms of exercise is to create strong core muscles in order to achieve perfect balance. They adopt the philosophy that the core and centre of strength are the bands of muscles in your abdomen, lower back and buttocks, and that this core controls the rest of the body.

All three forms of movement therapy are relatively stationary. However, because they strengthen your core muscles, your balance improve rapidly. Creating this harmony and balance in the body can help in your daily activities, even preventing falls. Those who practice these exercises develop greater flexibility and strength.


Here are just some of the benefits of movement therapy:

- Tai chi and yoga are especially recommended for people with arthritis. According to professionals, gentle yoga can improve arthritis in your hands. Also, tai chi’s defined, fluid movements can help keep your joints limber, relieve your pain, and keep you active.

- All three forms incorporate dance-like stretches, poses, and moves that will eventually strengthen and tone the body. In particular, Pilates is a wonderful strength-training workout.

- Adding Yoga or Pilates to your exercise schedule is a sure way to improve your heart health.

- Many people in today’s chaotic society find that fitting exercise into their busy schedules to be difficult and stressful. The great thing about movement therapy is that you are relieving stress while you exercise. Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates are all slow movements that focus on correct posture and breathing, which calms the body and mind.

- All three forms of movement therapy incorporate positions and moves that act upon the various joints of the body which, in result, increase flexibility. The varying positions and movements exercise different tendons and ligaments in the body which, in turn, increases lubrication.
              
- Movement therapy massages the organs of the body. In particular, Yoga massages all of the internal glands and organs of the body. Through the stimulation and massage of the organs, diseases and disorders are more likely to be kept at bay. One of the benefits of yoga is that the practitioner develops and amazing sense of awareness of an impending health disorder or infection. This, in turn, enables the person to take pre-emptive corrective action

- In Yoga, by gently stretching muscles and joints as well as massaging the various organs, yoga ensures the optimum blood supply to various parts of the body. This helps in the flushing out of toxins from the body, as well as providing nourishment. This results in benefits such as delayed ageing, energy and an incredible vitality.

- All three exercise forms are excellent in toning muscles. Through the various poses and moves, muscles that are flaccid and weak become stimulated and the individuals eventually shed excess flab and flaccidity.

- Through their fluid, graceful and focused movements and poses, all three movement therapies drastically improve body alignment, shape and posture in practitioners.

- Unlike many other forms of exercise which flex and focus on a particular group of muscles, these three activate all the muscles in the body. As a result, you do not get some muscles that are more developed than others.

- Movement therapy has proven to improve mental alertness. Studies have shown that one of the major advantages of breathing correctly is the improvement of the blood supply and blood flow. Pilates, Yoga and Tai Chi work on the principle of breathing effectively. With an improved blood supply, many of the toxins in our body get released, facilitating mental alertness.

- Pilates and Tai Chi exercises focus on smooth motion from one position to another. You can work several muscle groups in a one continuous motion, resulting in a highly efficient pattern of motion. This is especially useful in avoiding injuries, developing a good posture, and reaching optimal health.

A better mind-body connection

- Unlike most exercise programs only focus on superficial muscles in different areas of the body, Pilates, Yoga and Tai Chi make use of your mind to concentrate on the core of your body, to help achieve your goals. Movement therapy emphasizes on the alignment of your spine, and a smooth, continuous flow of movement. As a result, this increases the awareness for your body by enabling a greater control on its movement. Eventually, your mind is always in tune with your body.

- Pilates, Yoga and Tai Chi are excellent to use for rehabilitation pre and post surgery purposes. In addition, they are great ways to avoid unnecessary surgery through the restoration of strength, endurance and total body conditioning.

- Movement therapy is highly effectively in curing a variety of widespread ailments such as neck pain, back and shoulder problems, fatigue, knee problems and other illness.

- Movement therapy is also excellent in improving sleeping habits; it also strengthens the immune system, and improves stamina.



Things to know before you begin:

It is always better to be safe than sorry when adopting any new form of activity.

- Get your doctor’s approval on your fitness plan, especially if you have and past or present injuries.

- The stretches, poses, and movements of these therapies should not hurt. If you feel pain, stop and check your technique before continuing.

- Of the three exercise forms, Pilates is the most intense. If you are out of shape, you may want to begin with one of the less strenuous programs first and work your way up to it.