Don't Just Save for Retirement - Shape Your Brain Health Pension

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The Pilates Instructor's Guide to a Smarter Brain

Have you ever wondered if your daily workout does more than just tone your body? I recently stumbled down a rabbit hole of fascinating science that completely changed how I think about exercise. It all started when I was browsing FutureLearn's courses and a title caught my eye: “Sports and Exercise for Brain Health.”

As a Pilates instructor and someone who loves to move, I was immediately hooked. I signed up, not really knowing what to expect, but what I learned was mind-blowing. We hear "movement is medicine" all the time, but this course showed me that it’s not just a catchy phrase—it’s a scientific fact.

Your Brain on Exercise

Source: Futurelearn.com

The course, led by neuroscientist Stephanie Adams, explained that our brains are incredibly powerful, but they’re not invincible. Things like memory loss and even diseases like Alzheimer’s can be a risk, especially as we get older. The good news? We have a lot of control over our brain health. Adams identified 12 key factors that influence our brain's performance, from blood pressure to social connections. And guess what? The single biggest factor we can control is physical activity.

My New Resolution: A "Brain Pension"

I’m calling it my "brain pension" — a retirement plan for my mind. Instead of just setting a New Year's resolution, I'm making it a permanent lifestyle change. It’s a simple commitment: prioritize movement.

For me, that means making an effort to get up and walk around the studio, especially on long days. It means finding a new dance class to try or taking a bike ride instead of driving. It’s about sharing this knowledge with my clients, encouraging them to see their Pilates practice not just as a workout, but as an investment in their mental clarity and cognitive health.

I’m not a doctor, but I’m a huge advocate for moving your body, and this course solidified why. As the saying goes, "Exercise not only changes your body, it changes your mind, your attitude, and your mood."

Ready to invest in your own brain? Start small. Take a walk during your lunch break, try a new sport, or even just stand up and stretch every hour. Your future self will thank you.

What's one small way you can add more movement to your day? Let me know in the comments!

Exercise not only changes your body, it changes your mind, your attitude and your mood. Unknown