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tried Pilates yet, I highly recommend you find an instructor. There are a lot to choose from, so I recommend finding an instructor that is certified through the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA), the only governing body for Pilates instructors. If the instructor has earned a certification through the PMA, it means they have completed at least 450 hours of practice and are knowledgeable of all the Pilates equipment. The PMA is more than a trusted source of Pilates teachers. According to Jojo Bowman (2015), the PMA also has a specific initiative called “Heroes in Motion” (p. 168), dedicated to helping Veterans with Pilates. It is still growing, and there are many Pilates practitioners that are using the method to help us Veterans recover from and/or manage Traumatic Brain Injuries, amputations, and PTSD. It is my personal mission to assist with the growth of the “Heroes in Motion” initiative with PTSD specifically, and will continue to reach out to as many Veterans as I can to help them find relief from their suffering by connecting their breath with the body. No matter your choice on how to manage your PTSD, I think it is wise for all of us to find things that help us create new neural pathways (learn new things), improve our self-esteem, calm our minds/bodies, help us cope, and interact with others. This has been an excellent recipe for me in managing my mental health and is a long-term solution.
References
Graham, K. (2017, August 29). Exercise to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. [Web log post]. ACE fitness lifestyle blog. Retrieved from https://www.acefitness.org/ education-and-resources/lifestyle/blog/6537/exercise-to-reduce-symptoms-of-anxiety- and-depression
Scaer, R. (2014). The body bears the burden: Trauma, dissociation, and disease. New York, NY: Routledge.
Natour, J., Cazotti, L., Ribieriro, L., Baptista, A., Jones, A. (2015). Pilates improves pain, function and quality of life in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Clinical Rehabilitation, 29(1), 59-68.
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