As Professor Lauren Kearns extols the virtues of Pilates, you start to wonder: Is there anything this mind-body exercise can’t do?

Pilates builds and tones muscles. The low-impact full-body workout enhances flexibility and prevents injuries, particularly for athletes and dancers. Its focus on muscle activation, concentration and breath control promotes mindfulness and mental well-being.

“Pilates truly is for everyone,” Kearns said. “Regardless of your age, mobility or body size, Pilates is incredibly helpful in getting stronger and more mobile.”

A seasoned practitioner with over two decades of experience, she researches Pilates among other somatic exercises that improve bodily awareness and alignment. The co-founder of Elon’s Dance Science program sees fertile ground for scholarly exploration and practical application of an exercise that was beneficial during her own collegiate studies.

Kearns’s current scholarship examines Pilates in dancers and athletes. An upcoming Faculty Research & Development Summer Fellowship will contribute to the field of Pilates education with a deeper exploration of teaching methods that enhance student learning experiences.

Through dance courses that emphasize core principles such as breathing, concentration and whole-body movement, she fuses Pilates, yoga and dance movements in a training system she developed and published in her book, “Somatics in Action: A Mindful and Conditioning Tool for Movers.”

In addition to her own work, Kearns is mentoring undergraduate research projects that investigate hip stability, heart rate variability and lower-body injury prevention among dancers who incorporate Pilates in their training. She notes that, beyond health benefits, Pilates provides lucrative career opportunities.

“This is a billion-dollar industry that’s growing every year, and there aren’t enough qualified teachers to meet the demand,” said Kearns, a certified master educator through Balanced Body — the global leader in Pilates training and research. “Being a certified Pilates instructor means our dancers can find employment as soon as they graduate.”

It’s also an ideal activity because of its minimal requirements to get started — just a mat, a floor, and an instructor — and the ability to increase intensity and benefits with specialized equipment.

“I believe in this work for everybody,” Kearns said. “You’re developing a somatic awareness of how your body is feeling, how each muscle is activated and coordinating your breathing. I love how Pilates can transform my day and my mindset.”