Is Pilates Actually a Workout for Your Brain?
Let’s talk about pilates…
The other day in Pilates class, somewhere between attempting to keep my core engaged, not knock over my water bottle with a wayward foot, and trying not to accidentally fling a resistance ring across the room, I had a realization.
Pilates is basically the adult version of patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time.
You know the one.
Your instructor calmly says something like, “Extend your right leg, circle your left arm, rotate your torso slightly, breathe into the back of your ribs, and keep your pelvis neutral.”
And your brain is like:
Ma’am. Respectfully. We were barely prepared to handle standing upright today, like I poked myself in the eye brushing my teeth.
Meanwhile everyone around you looks serene and controlled while you’re trying to remember which limb is supposed to be doing what.
But it did get me thinking. If Pilates requires this much coordination and concentration, could it actually be doing something for our brains too?
Because if there’s one thing that starts popping up on your radar in your 40s, it’s the question of how to keep your mind sharp as you age.
So naturally I went down a little rabbit hole.
And it turns out Pilates might actually be doing more for us than just strengthening our glutes.
Why Pilates Feels Like a Brain Teaser
Pilates isn’t just about building strength. A huge part of it is coordination and body awareness.
Many of the movements require your body to do multiple different things at once.
Your arms might be circling while your legs are extending. Your core is engaged while your spine rotates. You’re breathing in a specific way while keeping everything controlled and aligned.
Basically your brain is trying to conduct a small orchestra made entirely of your limbs.
That kind of cross-body coordination forces your brain to communicate between both hemispheres, which keeps the neural pathways involved in movement and coordination active and engaged.
Or in simpler terms: your brain has to work pretty hard to keep up.
The Mind–Body Connection Is Real
One thing that makes Pilates different from a lot of workouts is how mentally present you have to be.
You can’t really zone out the way you might on a treadmill.
In Pilates you’re constantly thinking about:
- breathing
- alignment
- core engagement
- slow, controlled movement
That focus activates parts of the brain responsible for attention, motor control, and body awareness.
So while your abs are shaking like a leaf in a windstorm, your brain is also getting a little workout.
Two birds, one slightly sweaty, shaky, out of breath stone.
Exercise Is Good for the Brain in General
We already know that regular exercise is associated with better brain health and a lower risk of conditions like Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain and stimulates the production of something called BDNF, which scientists sometimes refer to as fertilizer for the brain because it helps support the growth and survival of neurons.
Basically, movement helps keep your brain environment healthy.
Pilates just happens to add another layer by making you think while you move.
Learning New Movements Keeps the Brain Flexible
Another sneaky brain benefit of Pilates is that you’re constantly learning new sequences and movement patterns.
Your instructor changes things up. The exercises build on each other. Sometimes you’re flipping positions faster than you can process.
Every time you learn a new movement pattern, your brain is creating new neural pathways.
This process is called neuroplasticity, and it’s one of the ways we keep our brains adaptable as we age.
So when you feel slightly confused during a new Pilates move, congratulations.
Your brain is doing exactly what it’s supposed to be doing.
Let’s Be Honest Though
Is Pilates a magical shield that guarantees you’ll never experience cognitive decline?
Sadly, no.
If that were the case, every Pilates instructor in America would have a Nobel Prize and we’d all be doing the 100s until we were 110.
But activities that combine physical movement, coordination, and concentration do appear to be especially beneficial for overall brain health.
And Pilates checks all three boxes.
The Real Takeaway
The next time you’re in Pilates class and your instructor asks you to extend one leg, rotate your spine, circle your arm, engage your core, and breathe into your back ribs all at the same time…
And your brain briefly considers filing for early retirement…
Just remember.
You might actually be giving your brain a workout too.
Which honestly makes me feel a lot better about the fact that I still can’t fully coordinate my left side during leg circles.
Midlife is all about taking the wins where we can get them. 💫
Like this post? Check out this post about somatic yoga…
