The Pilates RX Blog
The Pilates Approach to Cortisol & Chronic Stress
Stress is a part of everyday life, and many of us turn to exercise as a way to cope with it. While movement is essential for health not all exercise affects the body in the same way especially when it comes to stress hormones like cortisol. Understanding how cortisol responds to different types of movement can help us choose practices that support our nervous system and build resilience.
How Pilates and Pain Neuroscience Education Help to Rewire Your Brain
Many of us know someone, or are someone, affected by chronic pain. For many people, pain becomes more than a physical sensation; it can feel like an ongoing, stressful mystery. Why does it linger even when imaging looks “normal”? Why do flare-ups happen seemingly out of nowhere?
While it may not completely erase chronic pain, pain neuroscience offers a clearer understanding of what pain actually is and why it behaves the way it does. More importantly, it provides tools that help the body and nervous system move toward recovery.
With this foundation in mind, we can look at how Pilates and Pain Neuroscience Education work together. When combined, they create an approach that supports more confident movement, builds strength, and encourages greater freedom in everyday life.
Understanding the Diaphragm’s Role in Healthy Movement:
The diaphragm may be best known for its role in breathing, but its impact goes well beyond air exchange. Each inhale and exhale helps organize your spine, support your core, and guide the alignment of your entire body.
Below, we’ll explore why this muscle is so important, how it affects your core, and simple ways you can use your breath to improve the way you move.
Understanding Dry Needling: How It Works and Who It Can Help
Dry needling is a modern therapeutic technique used to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and restore movement by targeting tight muscles and trigger points. Learn how it differs from acupuncture, which conditions it can help — from back pain to TMJ — and how our physical therapist, Cate McPherson, uses it at The Pilates Rx to support your recovery.
The Science Behind Pilates and Cognitive Function
When we think of Pilates we often think we are doing it to build strength, improve posture, and increase overall mobility. And while all of these are true, Pilates also appears to have another powerful benefit: its impact on brain health.
Research shows that Pilates supports executive function otherwise known as the set of mental skills that help us plan, focus, remember and adapt. Several studies have found that consistent practice can lead to measurable improvements in executive function, verbal fluency and working memory.
The Pilates Rx & Proprioception: How to train your body’s internal GPS
Every day, we step over curbs, catch our balance, or reach for a glass of water often without thinking twice about it. But what is really behind these seemingly innate movements? It is something that few people are actually aware of: proprioception. Otherwise known as the body’s internal GPS, proprioception is what allows us to move with coordination, control and confidence. At the Pilates Rx, we are not just strengthening muscles, we’re training awareness, precision, and body control to enhance overall proprioception.
What is the Posterior Chain and Why it Matters at The Pilates Rx
In order to fully understand what exactly the role the posterior chain plays in movement, it’s important to first define what the posterior chain really is. The posterior chain is a group of muscles located on the back side of the body. It includes the erector spinae, gluteal muscles, hamstrings, latissimus dorsi, posterior deltoids, and rotator cuff muscles. These muscles work together to support your spine, stabilize your pelvis and power your movements. A strong posterior chain helps prevent injuries, reduces tension in the neck and shoulders, and allows for efficient and powerful movement patterns.
Podcast: Myths about physical therapy + pilates, our founding story and more!
What happens when the worlds of physical therapy and Pilates collide? Join us on the Good Neighbor Podcast as we chat through the launch of an innovative concierge Pilates and physical therapy studio that combines luxury with healing. Allie sheds light on common misconceptions about physical therapy and Pilates, emphasizing that healing and fitness can be fun, luxurious, and effective.
What is the Link Between Perimenopause/Menopause, Pelvic Pain, and My Pelvic Floor?
Did you know that perimenopause and menopause can significantly impact your pelvic floor? Hormonal changes during this time can lead to symptoms like pelvic pain, vaginal dryness, urinary incontinence, and even prolapse. The good news is that there are strategies to help manage these symptoms and improve your pelvic health!
5 Simple Ways to Break Free from a Sedentary Workday with the Pilates Rx
As we step into 2025, many of us are searching for ways to adopt new habits that can genuinely improve our lives. While change is never easy, consistent small actionable steps can make all the difference. By setting realistic goals and focusing on progress over perfection, we can create lasting transformations that lead to a healthier and happier version of ourselves.
Here at the Pilates Rx we prioritize intentional exercise breaks. These help your body stay active, reduce the risks of a sedentary lifestyle, and feel more energized throughout the day. Here are five easy ways to add movement to your workday—starting today!