Do The Breath

Training for an endurance event necessitates certain things: strength training, cross training, endurance runs, healthy diet, enough sleep, etc. But recently I've heard a term that piqued my interest. It's a part of one's training that rises above the rest. Something that gives them an "edge". This ladies and gentleman, is called 'the secret weapon'.

I found this amusing. Sounds like something out of a murder mystery. My TNT coach recently talked about hills in her neighborhood that she would inevitably run each time she went out for a jog, simply because they were at the start and end of her course if she were beginning from home. "I swear those were my secret weapon, because when I went out for group runs I killed it."

Do I have a secret weapon? If not, I want one! Turns out I might have one all my own. Has it helped me break records and win races? No, but that's not what I'm aiming for anyway. Has it helped me become a stronger runner? Absolutely.

It all started in the basement of the elementary school down the street from my apartment. Elementary school gym? you might be asking. What strenous activity can go on there.  We begin with the breath, Do the breath, my instructor repeats over and over. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Engage, don't clench. Again.

Is part of some new age spiritual awaking practice? No. Yoga? (I'll get into my love for yoga in a moment). Close, but not yoga. 

Pilates.

It all started almost 4 years ago when my friend and I decided to sign up for Pilates offered through Brookline Adult Ed. Previously having completed three rounds of Cooking Classes (aka eating class), we figured it would be good to switch it up and try something new. Fairly confident in my abdominal fitness, I thought, 'This will be fun. I'm not too worried about it. I'm in pretty good shape, I can handle a few crunches."

Flash forward 8 weeks to the end of the first session. I was sore. I mean every-part-of-my-body, sore. Arms, legs, ABS, neck muscles. Not only was I sore the last week, I was sore every week up until that point. Every single class would leave me aching, and by the time I recovered it was time for the next class. This isn't what I bargained for, I thought. If anything only my abs would be sore! Why can't I move my arms normally! Will the back of arms ever stop hurting?? I pleaded. I begged, but with each class the soreness persisted.

I soon learned Pilates, particularly this class and this instructor, is no joke. I remember about 10 minutes into my first class I knew I was in for it. I couldn't do half the moves! It was a STRUGGLE. My point in sharing the agony of that first session was that I for sure under estimated the power of pilates as a total body workout.

It got me thinking. Here I am with just myself and my mat. No free weights, machines, or props. And it is the most incredible full body workout I've ever had, all in 2 hours a week. How can that be? Don't you need weights or those bulky machines at the gym to build muscles? Turns out all you need is your own body weight. That is what I love about Pilates, is that it uses gravity and your own body weight for resistance. I was once told the best measure of how in shape you are is how well you're able to manipulate your own body weight. For example, can you hold plank for at least a minute (from hands and knees, extend legs all the way) without collapsing? At first I couldn't. Now, several Pilates sessions later, I can.

And it feels so natural. Jerking a bulky machine up and down with varying amounts of weights just doesn't feel right after you've done pilates or yoga.

In a world where we rush from place to place, and where our lives have been simpled by machines, we rush to another place in which we voluntarily exert force against other types of machines. This place is known as "the gym." While I am all for gyms, and the opportunities to increase fitness and overall health that are offered, I have been fortunate enough to explore an alternative, and I believe a much more natural way, of gaining strength in the mind and body. 

My Pilates teacher often tells us before class to bring the mind in. If you're mind is elsewhere, you're unable to maintain the necessary focus to do each move. Same for yoga. Yoga is based on the premise of bringing the mind and body together, so that when you're in an strenuous pose (as in life, we are often in uncomfortable positions), you can bring your focus to your breath to calm your mind and get through it moment by moment.  Similarly, yoga uses natural body weight as resistance with a focus on sustaining different poses while muscles are stretched and strenghtened.

How can I tell Pilates has helped? For one thing, I stand up taller when I run since I'm supported by better abdominal muscles. Why is this important? It helps reduce injury since my running form is better (knees over feet, not leaning forward or slouching). Also a stronger core/upper body I've noticed helps to propel me forward with each stride. Since every movement originates from the core (think about it, they don't call it your "core" for nothing), it makes sense that if it's strong, movement of the extremities will be more efficient (less work needed) since you're not compensating for a weak center. And when I'm running hills or doing a track workout, I do the breath. Bringing focus on your breath and not how tired you are really helps!

Four years later (three of which I took Pilates on a regular basis), I am not longer sore (yay!). Each class is still challenging, but I wake up able to move my arms and legs like a normal person. I'm more flexible, stronger all over, and have a new appreciation for the connection between mind and body. Try it! You'll be glad you did.