Wellness Natural Health Centre

11/10/2025

11/05/2025

Pilates feeds the soul!

A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis by Ju et al., published in Medicine, examined how Pilates affects depression and anxiety symptoms in women.

The researchers analysed 18 randomised controlled trials including 827 female participants who took part in Pilates programs ranging from several weeks to four months. These were compared to control groups such as usual care, health education, or non-specific exercise.

👉Key Findings

Pilates led to a moderate to large reduction in depressive symptoms and a moderate reduction in anxiety symptoms compared to control groups.

Women who practised Pilates for 12 weeks or longer tended to experience the greatest improvements.

Benefits were observed across a wide age range, with particularly strong effects in middle-aged and older women.

The findings suggest that Pilates may be an effective mind–body intervention to support emotional wellbeing and quality of life in women.

👉Study Limitations

The included studies varied in duration, frequency, and type of Pilates (mat, reformer, or mixed), making it hard to pinpoint the optimal approach.

Most trials involved small sample sizes and short-term interventions, so the long-term impact remains unclear.

Participants typically had mild to moderate depressive symptoms rather than diagnosed major depression, so results may not generalise to clinical populations.

👉Takeaway

The key takeaway for me is that Pilates (and exercise in general) has more benefits than just physical.

If you're a Pilates teacher remember, you're not "just" a Pilates teacher 💪

Movement is medicine

Tom

09/30/2025

New Research: Just 28 Days Without Parabens & Phthalates Reverses Cancer-Linked Breast Changes

A groundbreaking study published in Chemosphere has revealed that avoiding parabens and phthalates — common preservatives and fragrance enhancers in cosmetics and personal care products — for just 28 days can reverse cancer-associated changes in breast tissue.

Researchers analyzed breast tissue samples before and after a month-long avoidance period and found significant reversals in cellular pathways linked to cancer development, including:

• PI3K-AKT/mTOR signaling (cell growth & survival)

• Autophagy (cell recycling & stress response)

• Apoptotic signaling (cell death regulation)

These pathways are known to play key roles in tumor growth and progression.

Parabens and phthalates act as xenoestrogens, synthetic compounds that mimic estrogen. Since estrogen is closely tied to breast cancer risk, reducing exposure may help lower cancer-related cellular changes.

This research underscores the importance of choosing endocrine disruptor-free products and suggests that even short-term lifestyle changes can have measurable molecular impacts on breast health.

📖 Source: Chemosphere (via PubMed)

09/29/2025

As you grow older, movement isn’t optional ...IT'S ESSENTIAL.

If you don’t move, you won’t move. Every walk, and stretch is an investment in your independence, your strength, and your ability to keep living life on your terms.

04/13/2025

Your gut and brain are closely linked, with over 90% of serotonin—the ‘feel-good’ hormone—produced in the gut. A healthy gut can boost your mood and mental clarity, proving that nourishing your digestion is a key step toward emotional well-being. 🌱💪✨

04/11/2025

04/11/2025

Joseph Pilates Quotes

12/14/2024

Pilates students…this is why we train with the ball!!!

11/19/2024

Come visit me at the Greater Madawaska Business Showcase Saturday November 23rd from 2-6 pm.
Find out more about postural compensations, how they affect health and how they can be changed through movement.
Calabogie Community Centre.