Breathe, Move, Transform: Managing Stress This December with Pilates
- Jo Everill-Taylor
- 55 minutes ago
- 3 min read
December is a wonderful time of year — sparkling lights, festive music, and plenty of celebrations. But let’s be honest: it can also be stressful, with busy schedules, family commitments, and end-of-year deadlines.
This month, it’s more important than ever to pause, breathe, and reconnect with your body. Pilates is a gentle yet powerful way to do just that. Here’s how focusing on movement, mindfulness, and your core principles can help you manage holiday stress.
1. Start with the Breath
Breathing deeply and intentionally is one of the simplest ways to calm the mind. In Pilates, we use lateral breathing — expanding the ribs out while keeping the belly gently engaged.
Benefits of mindful breathing include:
Reducing tension in the neck, shoulders, and back
Lowering stress hormones and calming the nervous system
Increasing energy and focus to navigate busy days
Even just a few minutes of conscious breathing before a meeting, meal, or gift-wrapping session can make a noticeable difference.
2. Move to Release Stress
Holiday stress often manifests physically: tight shoulders, stiff hips, or an achy back. Pilates encourages controlled, mindful movement that releases tension, improves posture, and strengthens your body to cope with daily demands.
A few ideas to incorporate into your day:
Gentle roll-downs to ease the spine after sitting
Shoulder openers for when you’re carrying shopping or gifts
Hip stretches to release stiffness from standing or driving
Movement isn’t just exercise — it’s stress relief in motion.
3. Prioritise Your Core and Centering
Your Pilates “centre” — deep abdominal muscles, pelvic floor, and lower back — isn’t just for strength. Engaging your core helps stabilise your body and your mind, providing a sense of control amidst the seasonal chaos.
Spend a few minutes each day connecting with your centre. It helps you move more efficiently, feel grounded, and respond to challenges with calm instead of tension. This could be included with your breath work, as a Pilates class or as pelvic floor work too.
4. Flow and Mindfulness
Pilates movements are designed to be smooth, continuous, and mindful. Practising flow allows your mind to focus on the present moment — not the to-do list, not last week’s stresses, just your body moving.
This meditative quality makes Pilates perfect for December: you leave class feeling lighter, calmer, and more energised, ready to enjoy the festivities rather than get overwhelmed by them.
5. Practical Tips for a Less Stressful Season
Schedule your Pilates or stretching sessions like appointments — even 10–15 minutes counts
Use your breath when waiting in queues, during traffic, or while wrapping presents
Take short walks after meals or around the neighbourhood to refresh your body and mind
Focus on movement that feels good, not just what burns calories
A Season of Self-Care
Remember, stress management isn’t about doing everything perfectly — it’s about taking care of yourself so you can enjoy the season fully. Pilates is a tool to help you stay balanced, strong, and centred amidst the busyness.
If you’d like to join a class this December, we run face-to-face sessions in Hersham, Surrey, and online live-streamed classes to help you keep moving, grounded, and stress-free.
We also have a Self-Care Workshop that you can see here
When we get stressed, we often hold tension in our neck. Try this easy stretch to help
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