It’s normal to experience low energy levels throughout the day, especially in the afternoon after sitting at a desk for hours.
While I usually get my mood boosted by coffee and sweet treats, I discovered a gentle “feel good” Pilates routine taught by my instructor. Ashley McKee This video posted to Instagram is designed to boost your mood and get you moving, so I decided to give it a try to see if it could help ease my usual afternoon slump.
For those of you who haven’t tried Pilates, it’s a form of exercise that uses small, controlled body weight exercises to strengthen and tone muscles. It’s low impact, so it’s easier on your joints, but having trained in Pilates in the past, I know it can still be effective, and especially challenging for your core muscles.
Pilates is also great for mobilizing your joints, which may improve your posture and coordination. But can Pilates improve your mood? Here’s what I found out after trying this routine.
Ashley McKee’s Comfortable Pilates Method
This routine had seven bodyweight movements with 10 repetitions of each exercise, meaning the entire routine took less than 10 minutes.
You don’t need a lot of equipment for this routine, but it’s nice to have some inexpensive stuff on hand, like this inexpensive Pilates mat you can buy on Amazon for $30.
Ashley Mackie’s Relaxing Pilates Routine: What It’s Like to Try It Out
The moves in this routine are classic Pilates moves that might be considered gentle, but I felt my core being activated throughout. The roll-up preparation and full roll-up were both really good moves for waking up my abs. The single-leg stretch and side kick also activated my core muscles, which felt great after sitting at a desk all day.
Speaking of desk-related muscle stiffness, this routine was also effective in stretching my lower back and hips, leaving me feeling much more relaxed after the session.
This routine made me feel better physically, but how did it affect my mood and energy levels? I can’t say I got the same endorphin rush that running gives you, but I did feel more refreshed than when I started.
Moving my body also made me feel good, and none of the exercises were strenuous enough to leave me exhausted or in pain.
I think this is a great routine to try when you’re low on energy but don’t want to stress too much. Sometimes just moving a little bit is all you need.
Looking for more routines like this? Try these gentle yoga stretches for beginners or a Pilates ab workout to wake up your body in the morning.
