My Personal Pilates Workout Plan for Stress Relief

I suffer from TMJ Disorder, and I've noticed that when I exercise regularly, my jaw doesn't hurt as much. Exercise is a great stress reliever.

Here is my personal workout plan.

I walk my dog for cardio. It's hard for me to say exactly how much we walk, because it really depends on the weather. If it's nice and sunny out, we take longer walks, and if it's cold and rainy, we keep our walks brief. Having a dog can be a great way to keep yourself moving, even if you have a chronic illness. Our apartment complex has a great jogging trail where we walk. It's very relaxing to see the azaleas in bloom this time of year. Walking outside is a nice way to unwind. You get fresh air and sunshine.

Also, I enjoy doing Pilates twice a week. In Pilates, breath work is very important. Focusing on proper breathing can be very helpful when you're feeling stressed. You can record Pilates workouts on your DVR. Check out the Veria channel for a good show called Pilates From the Inside Out.

You can also find many PIlates programs on Netflix Instant Watch. I like 10 Minute Solution: Pilates. It's a little more fast paced, so I'd recommend it for someone who has worked with a Pilates instructor before and is familiar with the proper form. Pick Your Level Weight Loss Pilates is another good one. I like it because they have instructors doing the different modifications for you to follow along with. It's great for beginners and more advanced students. Another great resource for Pilates DVDs is your local library.

In addition, I like to use an exercise ball from time to time. I find that balancing on an exercise ball while doing crunches adds an extra challenge to keep my body working hard. Many Pilates classes and DVDs utilize exercise balls to improve balance and strengthen core muscles.

I've never gotten a workout "high" that some people talk about, but I do notice I have more energy overall when I'm working out regularly. And, as I said before, my jaw doesn't hurt as much. I'm 5'3" and weigh 112 pounds. I actually gained a little bit of weight when I started working out three years ago because muscle weighs more than fat. However, I almost immediately noticed that I was able to carry all of my groceries up to my third floor apartment without feeling like my arms were going to fall off.

Although there are many reasons why it's important to exercise, I continue to exercise for stress relief. I encourage others with stressful lives to make time to exercise.