Mat Pilates on Body Awareness and Physical Activity Levels in Sedentary Emerging Adulthood Women

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends physical activities of varying intensity tailored to different age groups. Evidence shows that regular physical activity reduces the risk of various chronic diseases such as heart attack, cerebrovascular accident, diabetes, and cancer, and positively impacts overall health by improving mental health and quality of life. Pilates is one of the popular and widespread physical activities that can be recommended worldwide. There are different classifications of this exercise form, such as classical, modern, and clinical (modified) Pilates. Pilates is a physical method and holistic approach that provides mental focus and reduces stress and anxiety. Pilates exercise was founded by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s. The traditional principles of Pilates exercise include centering, concentration, control, precision, flow, and breathing. The Pilates method focuses on exercises that involve breath control, postural symmetry, and the stabilization and flexibility of the spine, pelvis, and shoulders. Participation in Pilates exercises has been shown to correct poor posture, strengthen muscles that affect poor posture, maintain body balance, and thus alleviate spinal deformities. Emerging adulthood (for women) refers to the life stage between the end of adolescence and the onset of stable adulthood. In high-income countries, this refers to the ages of 18-29. While development during this period shares many similarities with the preceding period of adolescence and the subsequent period of young adulthood, emerging adulthood exhibits some significant differences in terms of demographics, subjective aspects, and identity exploration. This is a period of independence and exploration, but it can also be accompanied by stress and anxiety. Therefore, while there are important opportunities to lay a solid foundation for a healthy adulthood, mental health problems and psychiatric disorders are common at this life stage. People face significant life and role changes during this period, such as entering and leaving educational settings, leaving home, starting a career, and finding a life partner [5]. Emerging adulthood (i.e., late adolescence and early adulthood, ages 18-30) is characterized by five distinct features: Identity exploration: the emerging adult asks, "Who am I?" They try to find an answer to the question and evaluate various options, instability that can arise in interpersonal relationships or different environments (work, home, etc.), self-focus where the emerging adult makes their own decisions and learns to be self-sufficient, a transitional period between adolescence and adulthood and a feeling between possibilities/optimism, the hope that everything is possible and everything can be achieved. At this developmental stage, for individuals, discovering themselves and others and the new feelings that this can awaken can sometimes make it difficult to maintain harmonious relationships and sometimes conflicts can arise, which can turn into attacks of intimate partner violence.

A sedentary lifestyle is associated with the development of chronic noncommunicable diseases, increased mortality rates, and mental health disorders characterized by symptoms of depression and anxiety. Regular physical activity offers various benefits in terms of cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, musculoskeletal, functional health, cancer prevention, various chronic noncommunicable diseases, and mental health. However, research shows that children and adolescents who engage in higher levels of physical activity experience better physical health, mental, and psychosocial well-being compared to those with a sedentary lifestyle.

In health studies, developing body awareness has been shown to be a therapeutic approach for chronic pain, obesity, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Body awareness involves attention and awareness of internal bodily sensations, contributes to physical balance and well-being, and is linked to body image. Emotional regulation and sense of self are associated with physical sensations linked to emotions. It is influenced by awareness. Body awareness is linked to the subjective and phenomenological aspects of proprioception and interoception, which contribute to consciousness and are shaped by mental processes such as attention, interpretation, evaluation, beliefs, memories, conditioning, attitudes, and emotions. Therefore, body awareness emerges from the interaction of neurological and behavioral aspects, the environment, and the individual's psychomotor structure.

A review of the literature reveals that there are few studies on women in the transition to adulthood. Furthermore, there is insufficient information on how sedentary women's body awareness and physical activity levels change with Pilates. Our study was designed to examine the effects of mat Pilates on body awareness and physical activity levels in sedentary women in the transition to adulthood.