Yes, Pilates is excellent for reducing high cortisol levels. As a low-impact, mind-body exercise, it lowers the stress hormone by activating the parasympathetic nervous system. In particular, there are supported inversions with feet-in-straps where your legs will be above the head. These inversions are especially helpful as they stimulate baroreceptors (pressure sensors) in the heart and neck, triggering a vagotonic reflex that slows heart rate and lowers blood pressure.

Don’t feel dismayed if you’re in this situation, as it is very common particularly among women in mid life as estrogen levels drop or fluctuate. Estrogen helps regulate cortisol and keeps the stress response in check. As estrogen declines, the nervous system often becomes more sensitive to stress, making it easier for cortisol to spike and harder for it to return to baseline.

We are here to support you in your health and fitness journey, and you’ll find a community of like-minded people who boost one another up. We like to remember that if you can improve your situation even just 1% per day, then in just 4 weeks expect a significant change (and yes it’s usually much sooner as in a matter of days with relief of symptoms if doing pilates as part of your regime combined with other adjustments in diet).