Why Was Burlington Voted Least Angry City in USA? Pilates, of course.

A Pilates body like this takes work, there's no time to be angry!

A recent survey by Men’s Health Magazine found Burlington the least angry city in the US, even with our current delayed gratification of spring. Having just come home from Alison’s group reformer class, the reasons for this accolade are very clear: Pilates.

The Men’s Health results were based on several different factors including:

1. the number of aggravated assaults per capita
2. the number of people suffering from high blood pressure
3. the amount of time spent in traffic during rush hour traffic
4. the number of anger-management specialists per capita

We have anger management specialists in Burlington?

While I’d rather see stats that include number of Pilates studios, number of yoga studios, number of vegetarian restaurants, number of bike paths, number of dog parks, number of farmers markets (I guess these would appear in a survey of happiest US cities, rather than least angry), the honor is one we can celebrate.

Pilates body and after? Note the smile furthest right...

Men’s Health publishes a top 100 list every month. Burlington has appeared at the top (or in this case, the bottom) of this list several times. Most recently, our fair city has been judged the healthiest city in the US and the best place to raise a kid. Both of these titles are easily attributable in part to Pilates and yoga.

The benefits of Pilates are myriad. Pilates helps you increase your energy levels and circulation while it decreases your waistline and your stress levels. In my opinion, the greatest benefit of Pilates is increased happiness. Especially for practitioners in Burlington, apparently.

The practice just makes you feel good about yourself. The first two principles of Pilates are Centering and Concentration. This kind of focus on the center brings equilibrium, equanimity and even a sense of purpose. You gain overall body awareness and through this awareness, you’ll have a better sense of what makes you happy.

Esther was even happy underwater!

“I must be right. Never an aspirin. Never injured a day in my life. The whole country, the whole world, should be doing my exercises. They’d be happier.” — Joseph Hubertus Pilates, in 1965, age 86. (quoted in www.webmd.com)

And it’s fun. The focus at All Wellness this week is “Back to the Mat” and the work can be delightfully grueling. Yesterday we were all on our mats, facing the same direction, moving our legs in sync. It made me think of Ester Williams and I had to laugh!

Image credits: wholefitness.com, glamourdaze.blogspot.com, missclawdy.tumblr.com