We've taken the opportunity to label this month March MATness in the hopes of inspiring everyone to complete some or ALL of their Pilates Mat routine each and every day of this month.  Integrating the Mat work into your daily routine is critical if you truly want to reap all the method has to offer.  Every fitness role model in your world has managed to successfully integrate some type of consistent fitness routine into their daily life so much so that it becomes automatic and reflexive. Once fully integrated, your routine should require no conscious thought, but rather be triggered by another activity which always uniformly precedes it. The result is an easy routine that becomes akin to brushing teeth or washing your face before bed. Making this happen isn't quite as hard as you may think.  Here are a few of my favorite strategies inspired by this month's theme of Integration and executed using our core principles. 

Alignment - Working out at the best time for your body is key to integrating a routine you will stick to.  Your body is most receptive to exercise when your body temperature is highest which is normally between 3 and 5pm. If you're used to grabbing a pick-me-up at this time, consider a quick workout instead.  You'll be surprised how quickly this can become habit! 

Hands On - If you're a fan of "Functional Training" you'll gravitate to Pilates.  Multi-plane movements that exercise multiple muscles simultaneously are the key to effective and integrated fitness and the hallmark of Pilates.  In addition to the standard types of closed -chain exercises (Push ups, Press ups on the high chair, and Footwork), try using your own hands to provide resistance and in the process convert an exercise to a more challenging version.  Example: Open leg rocker done with your own Hands placed strategically inside of your ankles and pressing outward as your legs resist inwardly.  Your own hands can be your best trainer. 

Communication - One of best motivating tools I've found to get myself through a workout or set of exercises is a simple count down.  Choose a number.  It might be a time frame as in a 4 minute series of Kettlebell swings (done the Pilates way, of course) or a number of exercises as in I'll do 8 of the Mat moves today. Once you decide - puts a post-it in an obvious place until you complete the task.  Better yet, if you're an iPhone fan, tell 'Siri" to remind you to do  your reps!  Communicate with yourself to become your own coach!