How I became a Pilates teacher
“The only thing that can impede me is myself.” ~ Amanda Gorman
Let me tell you a story. The story of how I became a Pilates teacher. So, it could be very straightforward with dates like this paragraph:
I could tell you when I started my Pilates teacher training. In 2011, it was mat training first. I could tell you that was all I thought I’d do. All I thought I could fit into my already busy schedule. It was the students I taught during mat training who asked if I would continue with equipment. And as I looked at the schedule, I thought why not. I’ll figure out a way to rearrange my calendar to make it work. And that was in 2012. At the end of 2013, I took my final test (a solo workout), and got my certificate! I could tell you about my other movement-based certificates that followed.
But that’s not the most interesting part of my journey to a teacher. If you knew my beginnings, it doesn’t make a lot of sense how I became a teacher. Here’s the story… the beginnings.. Amanda Gorman. President Joe Biden. Maya Angelou. Anderson Cooper. And me. What do we all have in common? We are proud members of the speech difficulty club.
Anyone who knows me as an acquaintance I’m sure will find that difficult to believe. Anyone who knows me really well knows how fast I can talk, and the moods I’m in when I talk fast (usually super excited or angry, either way I’m pumped full of energy). Anyone at work who has watched any of my presentations over the years might think I’m joking with the presentations I make. A lot of humor and laughter mixed in with some audience participation. All kidding aside, I’m absolutely serious about my speech difficulty.
I had a stutter growing up. Yep, yours truly. It was very specific to social situations in large groups, either talking or presenting information. It didn’t matter if I was sitting at my desk, or standing in front of a classroom. It didn’t matter if I was standing still at a podium, or moving around while talking through a math problem at the chalkboard, or a show–and-tell. When I was 1-on-1 with someone, no stutter. When I was in a small group, say 4-5 people, no stutter. Addressing a room full of people, the stutter would rear its ugly head.
For me, it’s an absolutely frustrating, disappointing, upsetting, and defeating feeling. In my head, it’s so clear what I have to say, and how to say it. In my head, what I had to say was as smooth as it could be. What came out of my mouth was stuck sounds, long sounds, or no sounds as I tried to prepare myself to speak in an un-stuck manner because I did feel stuck. While everyone was laughing at me, I was getting so mad at myself, and willing my body to say the words. But this just created more stutters. I would clench my fists, blink my eyes profusely, completely tense in my body, hoping the next words out of my mouth sounded as eloquent and clear as it did in my head. My breath would be short gasps, and I could feel my body temperature rise as all I got out was repetitive sounds or prolonging sounds.
How did my stuttering stop? I saw a speech therapist through my school. I can’t remember my therapist’s name, but I remember her kindness, patience, and belief that I would overcome this stutter. That it did not define me.
If only she can see me now. A student who was able to do presentations and answer questions in large group settings in high school, college, and graduate school. A Technology Program Manager who presents at work on a regular basis, including to C-level executive leadership team in-person or over Zoom. A Pilates teacher who teaches group classes in-person and over Zoom. It’s a remarkable and unbelievable journey that I never saw for myself.
In last month’s blog, I started my blog with this quote:
“It’s the mind itself which shapes the body.” ~ Joseph Pilates
I think it’s one of my favorite quotes of Joe’s. It shows how strong the mind-body connection is. I find when I put my mind to something, I can accomplish anything. And so my inner Pilates teacher was born.
The next time something is hard for you – put your focus and attention on it. Because guess what? You can do hard things. It may not come in just that moment, but it will be all the moments up to that moment that count. Compounding moments. And you may quite possibly have a breakthrough moment, a moment when it all comes together. A moment you never saw for yourself.
I needed a speech therapist to help me make connections to overcome my speech disorder/impediment. My hope is to help you make connections in your movement to help you move more effectively and efficiently. Whether it’s everyday living movement, athletic movement, rehab movement, it only works through a mind-body connection. Join me in a group class or a private session to develop your mind-body connection.
I leave you with one final quote by yours truly:
Practice Pilates, and Stand Up for YOUrself. ~ Christine, aka Pilates Bound