As Featured In
We often come to Pilates for strength, for postnatal recovery, or simply to feel more at home in our bodies—but one of the most quietly powerful benefits of a regular Pilates practice is the way it supports your nervous system.
And in the season of life many of us are in—balancing motherhood, relationships, work, and everything in between—our nervous systems are often running the show in the background, stuck in survival mode. We’re constantly “on,” even when we’re resting.
Pilates offers a way back.
At the heart of Pilates is awareness. Rather than pushing through reps or zoning out during a workout, we slow down, tune in, and move with the body. This mindful movement helps shift the nervous system from a state of “fight or flight” into “rest and digest”—where real healing and resilience begin.
Even just 10 minutes of intentional movement—where breath leads the way and attention stays anchored in your body—can be enough to start calming the whole system down. It’s not just physical. It’s deeply neurological.
One of the most direct ways Pilates supports the nervous system is through breath. In every class, we work with the breath—not just as a tool for core activation, but as a way of creating rhythm, grounding, and calm.
Deep, diaphragmatic breathing stimulates the vagus nerve, which helps tone the parasympathetic nervous system (that’s the one responsible for calm, rest, and restoration). It’s science, yes—but also deeply felt. You leave the mat feeling clearer, softer, more you.
What many people don’t realise is how closely the nervous system and pelvic floor health are linked. When the nervous system is in a constant state of stress, the pelvic floor often mirrors that by holding tension—or, conversely, becoming disconnected or underactive. This can lead to symptoms like leaking, heaviness, or discomfort, especially after birth.
Pilates helps create a sense of safety in the body, allowing the pelvic floor to respond and release as it’s meant to. Through breath-led, nervous-system-informed movement, we support not just strength, but true balance in the pelvic floor—something that’s essential for long-term core health and emotional wellbeing.
For many of us—especially those who’ve been through pregnancy, birth, or trauma—there can be a sense of disconnection from the body. Pilates can gently rebuild that connection, helping the body feel like a safe place again.
We work in a way that’s non-judgmental, adaptable, and led by your body’s signals. There’s no “pushing through” pain or overriding discomfort. That kind of attunement is deeply regulating for the nervous system. It says: you’re safe, you’re allowed to feel, and you don’t need to be “fixed.”
Pilates isn’t about going hard once a week and crashing after. It’s about weaving gentle, intelligent movement into the rhythm of your life—so your nervous system learns it doesn’t need to be on high alert all the time.
Over time, that consistency builds real resilience. You start to notice that you’re less reactive, more grounded, and able to return to yourself more easily—even on the messiest days.
So if you’re feeling wired, depleted, or like you’re living from the neck up—know that Pilates can be a way home. A way to care for your body and your nervous system, one mindful breath at a time.
You’re not meant to do it all on adrenaline alone.
Let your nervous system exhale with my 30 Day Challenge.
Receive a FREE pelvic floor health download when you sign up to our newsletter.
Follow us on social for more centred thoughts
