I miss doing yoga. I haven’t practiced much since my local studio closed down. She wants to get back to practicing, but she doesn’t have time to spend even an hour practicing.
I get some of the benefits of yoga from daily meditation. It improves your awareness of your body and makes you feel calmer and more mindful. However, it won’t improve your flexibility like a good yoga session.
I recently discovered a 10-minute Pilates session that requires no equipment. Get the flexibility benefits and core training of a yoga session at the same time. I figured that if I could meditate for 10 minutes, I’d have plenty of time for a 10-minute Pilates class, so I gave it a try.
How to do 10-minute Pilates for your travel session
This short session was developed by certified Pilates teacher Jessica Valant. You don’t need any equipment to get started, but a yoga mat can make floor exercises more comfortable.
Valant guides your every move. Be sure to watch the video and imitate her form. This will help you get the most out of your session and avoid injury.
I tried a session at home. Here’s how I felt after doing the 10 minute routine.
1. You can do a lot in 10 minutes
To me, 10 minutes doesn’t seem like a long time. Going into the session, I thought I would probably do a few moves but not get much done. Thankfully, I was wrong.
The routine flowed easily between standing poses and floor-based movements. It includes a balance of low-intensity stretching, core-focused movements, and breathing techniques to help you connect with your body. Although it was a short time, it was a fulfilling session.
2. Pilates is good for your core.
A few years ago, when I was diagnosed with an illness, my doctor recommended Pilates, which he said would help strengthen my core and improve circulation and raise my blood pressure. In the end, I opted for yoga and core-strengthening exercises instead.
But in this 10-minute class, I worked my midsection with twists, alternating leg raises, and bicycle crunches. These target muscles aren’t typically trained during weight training, so I felt the effects of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) around my abdomen the next day.
3. You don’t need weights to train effectively
Ever since I stopped my regular yoga practice, I’ve fallen into the trap of thinking that an effective workout has to be dripping with sweat and muscles on fire. To cram everything into my day, I usually do high-intensity resistance training (HIRT). That means fast and intense training.
Jessica Vallant’s class was a great reminder that you don’t always have to go all out when it comes to exercise. It pays to slow down. Not only does it calm her down, but it also gives her time to really focus on her form instead of rushing through her sets.
