Pilates, Mindfulness and Somatic Education.
Karen Caldwell, Marianne Adams, Rebecca Quin, Mandy Harrison, Jeffrey M Greeson
Journal of Dance & Somatic Practices December 1, 2013 DOI: 10.1386/jdsp.5.2.141_1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Pilates Method mat classes recreational exercise classes |
| Duration | 15 week semester |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Stress Self-efficacy Mood The pilates method Somatic education |
| Key findings | Total mindfulness scores increased over a 15-week semester for the Pilates Method group but not for the exercise control group. The increases were directly related to end-of-semester ratings of self-regulatory self-efficacy, perceived stress, and mood. The authors suggest that Pilates specifically enhances mindfulness and that these increases are associated with other measures of wellness. |
Abstract
The Pilates Method is a form of somatic education with the potential to cultivate mindfulness - a mental quality associated with overall well-being. However, controlled studies are needed to determine whether changes in mindfulness are specific to the Pilates Method or also result from other forms of exercise. This quasi-experimental study compared Pilates Method mat classes and recreational exercise classes on measures of mindfulness and well-being at the beginning, middle and end of a 15 week semester. Total mindfulness scores increased overall for the Pilates Method group but not for the exercise control group, and these increases were directly related to end of semester ratings of self-regulatory self-efficacy, perceived stress and mood. Findings suggest that the Pilates Method specifically enhances mindfulness, and these increases are associated with other measures of wellness. The changes in mindfulness identified in this study support the role of the Pilates Method in the mental well-being of its practitioners and its potential to support dancers' overall well-being.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Cancer patients (clinical intervention study) | 2003 | Mixed methods: scale development, correlational, quasi-experimental, laboratory, experience-sampling, and clinical intervention study | |
| Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. | 2008 | Controlled laboratory experiment | |
| Mindfulness and mind-wandering: Finding convergence through opposing constructs. | 2012 | Two studies: correlational study and experimental study | |
| Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Incarcerated population | 2006 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual control condition |