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Impact of Pilates on Anxiety Attention, Motivation, Cognitive function and Achievement of Students: Structural Modeling

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Few studies in psychology and medical researchs have studied effect of pilates on students anxiety, attention, motivation and cognitive function. Pilates has many physical and mental benefits. This study examined the association between pitates exercises and students anxiety, attention, motivation and cognitive functions that are very important parameters affecting on academic performance. The first time is represented the structural model of the problem. The ways that pilates affects on anxiety, attention, motivation, and cognitive function are established.
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Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 186 ( 2015 ) 544 – 548
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com
1877-0428 © 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of Academic World Education and Research Center
doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.04.009
ScienceDirect
5th World Conference on Learning, Teaching and Educational Leadership, WCLTA 2014
Impact of Pilates on Anxiety Attention, Motivation, Cognitive
function and Achievement of Students: Structural Modeling
Konul Memmedova
a
*
a
Department of Psychological Counseling and Guidance, Near East University (North Cyprus)
Abstract
Few studies in psychology and medical researchs have studied effect of pilates on students anxiety, attention, motivation and
cognitive function. Pilates has many physical and mental benefits. This study examined the association between pitates exercises
and students anxiety, attention, motivation and cognitive functions that are very important parameters affecting on academic
performance. The first time is represented the structural model of the problem. The ways that pilates affects on anxiety, attention,
m
otivation, and cognitive function are established.
© 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Peer-review under responsibility of Academic World Education and Research Center.
Keywords: medical researchs, Pilates, structural model, pilates affects
1. Introduction
In developing his method, Pilates (founder of Pilates exerci
ses) combines both eastern and the western concepts
(Pilates and Robbins, 2012) by including mental focus and specific breathing of yoga with the ancient Greek and
Roman exercise systems.
Pilates provides complete coordination of body, mind and spirit.
Pilates is based on six principles which enable
to increase attention, motivation and enhance cognitive functions while minimizing stress on the body (Ungaro,
2002).
* Konul Memmedova. Tel.: +90 (392) 223 64 64; fax: +90 (392) 223 64 61.
E-mail address: konul.memmedova@neu.edu.tr
© 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of Academic World Education and Research Center
545
Konul Memmedova / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 186 ( 2015 ) 544 – 548
1.1 Principle of pilates
Centering: Physically bringing the focus to the center of the body, which include the abdominals, pelvis, buttocks
and back.
Concentration: Bringing one's full atte
ntion to the form and execution of each exercise.
Control: Engaging the mind to unite with the body to economize movement (i.e. learning to use only the muscles
n
ecessary to perform a task, while the rest of the body relaxes).
Precision: Employing the notion that every movement has a pu
rpose, resulting in a "less is more," and "quality
over quantity" philosophy. When a movement is performed well a few times, there is no need to do more.
Breath: Moving in tandem with the breath, resulting in enh
anced lung capacity, overall coordination and
facilitating a stronger mind-body connection.
Flow: Fluidity, grace, and ease are g
oals applied to all exercises. The energy of an exercise connects all body
parts and flows through the body in an even way.
1.2 Benefits of pilates
The mindbody approach has many physical, psychological and social impacts (Hillman, Erickson, Kramer,
2008; Un
garo, 2002) given below:
Increase flexibility, strength and vitality
Strengthen the immune system.
Improve balance.
Help manage chronic health conditions such as asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, back pain,
osteo
arthritis and osteoporosis.
Improve concentration and focus.
Reduce stress and anxiety and , relieve tension and boost energy
Encourage the connection of our physical, mental and spiritual selves.
Help us maintain a strong, flexible spine and P
rovide a greater awareness of our posture.
Strengthen deep abdominal muscles.
Help with motivation by engaging our mind and enhancing body awareness.
Promote recovery from strain or injury.
Increase the range of motion of joints.
Improve circulation.
Offer relief from back pain and joint stress.
Compliment sports training and develop functional fitness for daily life.
Improve the way our body looks and feels.
The medical community also recognizes Pilates as a modality that assists with physical therapy. Pilates
w
ork is often incorporated into conventional therapy to facilitate healing an protect clients from future injury.
2. Structural Model of impact of pilates on psychological factors
Impact of pilates on attention, motivation and cognitive fun
ctions factors can be represented by the following
structure:
546 Konul Memmedova / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 186 ( 2015 ) 544 – 548
Figure 1. Structural Model of impact of pilates on psychological factors
Pilates affect on above mentioned psychological factors through several ways.
Consider each cases separately.
Anxiety is one of the major psychological variables which is considered as an important part of personality
development. Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and
behavioral components.. However, when anxiety becomes overwhelming, it may fall under the classification of
anxiety disorder pilates reduce stress, anxiety, fatigue and improve mood. Pilates helps an individual to deal with a
demanding situation by prompting them to cope with it. American and European studies are found a negative
correlation between anxiety and academic achievement (Taruna Malhotra, Sheena Sabharwal, 2013). Pilates reduces
the anxiety by following mechanism:
Figure 2. Impact of pilates on anxiety
x Increases body energy
x Increase sleep quality
x Release negatively thinking
x Body become more comfortable
x Breathing exercises decrease anxiety
x Increase attention and concentration
x Improve blood and oxygen circulation
flow to the brain
x Muscles are relaxed
Pilates
Anxiety
Anxiety
Motivation
Achievment
Attention
Cognitive
function
547
Konul Memmedova / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 186 ( 2015 ) 544 – 548
Attention was originally defined by the psychologist, William James, over a hundred years ago, as processing
‘one out of what seem several simultaneously possible objects or trains of thought. It implies withdrawal from some
things in order to deal effectively with others’ . You might think of attention as a filter or funnel, in which many
pieces of information come into the brain, but only one of these pieces of information is processed. Pilates by
following ways increases attention.
Figure 3. Impact of pilates on attention
Motivation is defined as the process that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behaviors. In other words
motivation refers to factors that activate, direct, and sustain goal-directed behavior
(http://psychology.about.com/od/mindex/g/motivation-definition.htm). In educational perspective motivation is
student’s willingness, need, desire, and compulsion to participate in, and be successful in, the learning process
Particularly with respect to students, motivation for academic achievement is of great importance. By such
motivation people are stimulated to successfully complete an assignment, achieving a goal or a degree of
qualification in their professions (Amrai , Motlagh, Zalani & Parhon, 2011). Motivated behaviors are energetic,
oriented and permanent.
Figure 4. Impact of pilates on motivation
x Concentration and precision are
two main principles of pilates
x Body mouvement is controled
by the brain
x Attention and concentration increased
x Sleep qualiy is increased
x Release negatively thinking
x Body becomes relax
x Memory processing speed
is increased .
Pilates
Attention
x Improvements total mood
x increase vitality and body energy
x
Satisfaction of the basic psychological needs as
competence, autonomy, and relatedness.
x Improuve psychological well-being
x
Attain ego and self determination enhancements
x Improvement in self-esteem
x Reduce stress and anxiety
x
Release certain transmitter alivating physical
and mental pain
x
Enjoyment and affect is component of instrinc
motivation
Pilates
Motivation
548 Konul Memmedova / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 186 ( 2015 ) 544 – 548
Pilates exercise improves muscular strength, balance, posture; flexibility, bone density, and decrease back pain.
The development of musculoskeletal fitness with long term resistance training is associated with enhanced
cardiovascular function and musculoskeletal metabolism. Pilates increases a cognitive function pilates is different
than many other forms of exercise because it requires the mind to pay attention to what you are doing. Research
shows that when required to think about how you are moving, your brain cells grow at a faster rate and your nervous
system creates better connections throughout your body.
Figure 5. Impact of pilates on cognitive functions
Pilates reduce stress, anxiety, fatigue and improve mood, motivation and achievement.
Beyond academic achievement many researchers connects pilates to absenteeism, drop-out rate, and social
communications of students (Aladro-Gonzalvo, et all. 2012).
References
Aria´n R. Aladro-Gonzalvo, et all. (2012). The effect of Pilates exercises on body composition: A systematic review. Journal of Bodywork &
Movement Therapies 16, 109e114.
Caldwell, K., Harrison, M., Adams, M., Triplett, N. T. (2009). Effect of Pilates and taiji quan training on self-efficacy, sleep quality, mood, and
physical performance of college students. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 13(2), 155-163. Version of record published by
Elsevier (ISSN: 1360-8592) DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2007.12.001
Chapell, Mark S., et all.., (2005). Test Anxiety and Academic Performance in Undergraduate and Graduate Students . Journal of Educational
Psychology, Vol. 97(2), May 2005, 268-274.
Hillman, C.H., Erickson, K.I., Kramer, A.F., (2008). Be smart, exercise your heart: exercise effects on brain and cognition. Nat. Rev.
Neuroscience. 9, 5865.
http://psychology.about.com/od/mindex/g/motivation-definition.htm).
Joseph Pilates, Judd Robbins (2012). Pilates' Return to Life Through Contrology. Revised Edition for the 21st Century. (Originally published by
Joseph Pilates in 1945), Kindle Edition.
Kourosh Amrai , Shahrzad Elahi Motlagh , Hamzeh Azizi Zalani & Hadi Parhon. (2011). The relationship between academic motivation and
academic achievement students. Available online at www. sciencedirect. com. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences 15,399402.
Taruna Malhotra, Sheena Sabharwal (2013). Anxiety and Mental Health of Adolescents: A Study. International Educational E-Journal,
{Quarterly}, ISSN 2277-2456, Volume-II, Issue-III, July-Aug-Sept 2013
Ungaro, A., (2002). Pilates: Body in Motion. Dorling Kindersley Publishing, Inc., London. 2002.
Van der Geer, J., Hanraads, J. A. J., & Lupton, R. A. (2000). The art of writing a scientific article. Journal of Science Communication, 163, 51
59.
x Pilates increases blood and oxygen flow to
the brain
x BDNT support neuronal survival in the
developpng brain
x Generate new neurons
x Provides mood enhancement
x Increases neurotransmitters
x Neurotrophins assure the survival of neurons
in areas responsible for learning, memory
and higher thinking
Pilates
Achivement
... For instance, practicing yoga demands that participants consciously maintain specific postures for a certain duration, thereby requiring sustained attention. Pilates emphasizes concentration and the precise control of movements, with a focus on the body being directed by the mind (32). Dance involves rapid transitions between various movements (33,34), necessitating a high degree of attentional focus and quick, accurate responses (35). ...
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... This is suggestive of a growing awareness of Pilates and a deepening acceptance of its scientific value. Within these articles there are a number related to positive gains in healthy individuals [2][3][4] and even more relating to the benefits in different disease populations, for example breast cancer [5][6][7][8] and mental health [9][10][11][12]. Despite the scientific communities deepening interest there is a paucity of data relating to the overall strength gains and any concomitant biochemical changes. ...
... 4,11,12 Pilates, a floor-based mind-body exercise, is a form of exercise that involves a sequence of movements to enhance strength, flexibility, endurance, mobility, efficiency, muscle power, and the mind-body connection. [13][14][15] Pilates provides the holistic coordination of the body, mind, and spirit and is based on six principles that improve attention, and motivation and mental health, cognitive and functional capabilities, while concurrently mitigating physical stress on the body across various populations, from college-age individuals to the elderly. 14,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Similar to Pilates exercise, plyometric exercise is a popular form of physical conditioning for healthy individuals and is commonly used in sports conditioning and rehabilitation programs. ...
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... In its application, students can study independently outside the classroom by digging up information about learning media materials through YouTube videos, articles or other digital and non-digital sources before online classroom learning activities are carried out. Student achievement is influenced by anxiety faced by students during teaching and learning activities (Memmedova, 2015). Based on the results of student responses, it was found that this method is considered more effective and able to create student readiness in learning in class, transfer knowledge from peers and familiarize students with finding material in the real world. ...
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... The reasons why Pilates plays an effective role in reducing anxiety were listed as follows: increasing body energy, improvement in sleep quality, eradication of negative thoughts, increased physical fitness of the body, reduction of anxiety with respiratory control, increased concentration with the principle of attention and focus, improvement in blood and oxygen circulation to the brain, and muscle relaxation (Cruz-Ferreira and Fernandes, 2011). There are studies emphasizing that Pilates mat exercises lead to positive significant changes in parameters such as life satisfaction, physical selfconfidence, perception of health level, perception of acceptance, physical appearance perception, and functionality perception (Memmedova 2015). Although there was no change in the anxiety levels of the NIA group in our study, the individuals stated verbally that they were relieved at the end of the sessions. ...
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The effect of Pilates exercises on body composition: A systematic review
  • R Aria´n
  • Aladro-Gonzalvo
Aria´n R. Aladro-Gonzalvo, et all. (2012). The effect of Pilates exercises on body composition: A systematic review. Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies 16, 109e114.
Pilates' Return to Life Through Contrology
  • Joseph Pilates
  • Judd Robbins
Joseph Pilates, Judd Robbins (2012). Pilates' Return to Life Through Contrology. Revised Edition for the 21st Century. (Originally published by Joseph Pilates in 1945), Kindle Edition.
Anxiety and Mental Health of Adolescents: A Study. International Educational E-Journal, {Quarterly}, ISSN 2277-2456, Volume-II, Issue-III
  • Taruna Malhotra
  • Sheena Sabharwal
Taruna Malhotra, Sheena Sabharwal (2013). Anxiety and Mental Health of Adolescents: A Study. International Educational E-Journal, {Quarterly}, ISSN 2277-2456, Volume-II, Issue-III, July-Aug-Sept 2013
Pilates: Body in Motion
  • A Ungaro
Ungaro, A., (2002). Pilates: Body in Motion. Dorling Kindersley Publishing, Inc., London. 2002.
Effect of Pilates and taiji quan training on self-efficacy, sleep quality, mood, and physical performance of college students
  • K Caldwell
  • M Harrison
  • M Adams
  • N T Triplett
Caldwell, K., Harrison, M., Adams, M., Triplett, N. T. (2009). Effect of Pilates and taiji quan training on self-efficacy, sleep quality, mood, and physical performance of college students. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 13(2), 155-163. Version of record published by Elsevier (ISSN: 1360-8592) DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2007.12.001
Pilates' Return to Life Through Contrology. Revised Edition for the 21st Century
  • Joseph Pilates
  • Judd Robbins
Joseph Pilates, Judd Robbins (2012). Pilates' Return to Life Through Contrology. Revised Edition for the 21st Century. (Originally published by Joseph Pilates in 1945), Kindle Edition.