After a serious injury that would have her shelve her favourite workout for at least a year, avid runner Faye James fell into a deep depression. But then she discovered Pilates, and her life changed.

From Lady Gaga to Miley Cyrus, reformer pilates has a long list of famous fans to its name – and it's not hard to see why. While it might be easier to sit on the couch under a blanket and watch Netflix when it's dark and stormy, pilates can be a way to get your body moving and reap the emotional and physical benefits.

Life is an uncertain roller coaster. You can choose to embrace it and enjoy the ride, joyfully learning from your experiences along the way; or you can choose to rebel against all of life’s challenges, resenting every moment of your journey.

Always learning new things, and staying busy with friends and favorite activities — is exactly what the experts say can help keep our thinking skills sharp. "Cognitive and social engagement have been shown to be protective against cognitive decline, whereas hearing loss, depression, and social isolation are associated with cognitive decline," says Dr. Kathryn Papp, a neuropsychologist and instructor in neurology at Harvard Medical School.

Through a series of precise, controlled movements Pilates targets all muscle groups in the body whilst working on posture, functionality and flexibility. It’s also one of the ultimate mindful training practices, aiding stress and anxiety relief through breathing exercises, which is one of the key principles of Classical Pilates.

Are you guilty of thinking that Reformer Pilates is just for people who don’t like the gym or cardio, or that it’s the same as Yoga, or even perhaps that it’s only good for rehab? You’re not alone — and we need to put you back on the right track.

11 benefits of mat PIlates.

It is a really essential component in life to find one’s peace. To really discover the connection back to self, the universe and to be vibrating at a high level, back to your natural state. This vibration is so high that the body can heal, the mind can heal and the soul can heal. Past physical and emotional trauma stored in the muscles, cells and memory has time to be released and the healing process started.