What Pilates means to me

“Not only is health a normal condition, but it is our duty not only to attain it, but to maintain it.” ~ Joseph H. Pilates

My relationship with Pilates has morphed over the years, and what I know for sure is that I’m sure it will continue to morph as I continue my own personal workouts, continue learning in classes and workshops I attend as a student, continue teaching my very own students, and watching them with a teacher’s eye.

My very first introduction to Pilates was in my high school gym, and it immediately caught my attention because we began laying down. Prior to that moment, all I knew was that laying down was going to sleep, reading a book, or playing with the kids I babysat. But workout on your back – WHAT???

We’ll be here forever if we go year by year. So let’s speed this up with the next significant milestone. The next time I seriously picked up Pilates again. That would be 2006. By this time, I was in a very long on/off relationship with yoga where I was feeling like I was hitting a plateau in my practice, and bored with the various teachers I tried. Yet, I needed something to help me manage the stresses of daily life, to get stronger, to hold off the physical ailments of aging for as long as possible after watching family members, friends, colleagues who are older than me complain of aches and pains. I needed a workout where I would be pushed when I didn’t think it’s possible, learn something new, get body awareness, and learn how to actually use my body for better use. So yes, those needs were met. But you know what else happened – I found friendship, community, and a workout where I can give feedback to my teacher on the spot and get something addressed in real-time. It was a conversation, not just being lectured at, you know what I mean?

Within a couple of years, I noticed how everything else in my life improved. Other fitness movements I incorporated into my life like yoga, spinning, acroyoga, aerial fitness, gyrotonic, gyrokinesis, swimming, bootcamp, HIIT, etc. Basically, you name it, I’m pretty sure I tried it! All because I was getting stronger, and my body was moving efficiently. I swear this version of me could beat my younger self’s a$$! LOL!

Now, let’s fast forward to 2011/2012 where my interest turned more inward as I started a teacher training program. I wanted to understand the ins/outs, nooks/crannies, all the layers of how to take what I’ve learned as a practitioner, and apply all the book-smart knowledge, and all the teachings from my teachers to teach others. I wanted to share with others what Pilates has done for me because maybe it can do the same for others, and wouldn’t that be simply wonderful? To spread the love so more people can experience the benefits and wonders of this physical fitness program. I wanted to give back what it gave to me.

Heading into 2020 in a time of quarantine life because of a global pandemic of COVID-19, I needed to create a website for my students old, new, or returning. As I thought about how to describe Pilates, below is an excerpt of what I wrote for my website:

It’s like yoga, but harder, is how I describe it when I’m out and about in the world. Hahaha! But in all seriousness, it’s an exercise system for anyone, and everyone. It’s mobility and stability. It’s strength and flexibility. It’s strength, stretch, AND control.

The benefits are endless, but here’s some highlights:

Balance your body’s patterning and asymmetries.
Improve your balance, coordination, posture, and breathwork.
Increase body awareness to help you do life better.

Blah, blah, blah. All of that means it helps with functional movement of everyday life:

Pick somebody (maybe even you!) or something off the floor.
Reach behind you to grab something.
Catch yourself if you trip before you fall.
Less aches, pains, tight spots, and daily stresses.

Plus anything else you got:

Reduce back pain? Check.
Manage stress? You bet.
Coming back from an injury? That too.
Want to get stronger? Want to get more flexible? Want to stand taller? Who doesn’t.

Let’s find muscles you never knew you had.

Now, let’s fast forward to today – Feb 2021 (when I write this blog), and I’m just starting to understand on a deep level the connections of the exercises as they relate to each other. And I’m starting to understand how the apparatus supports all the mat exercises, as well as how the apparatus supports exercises on other apparatuses. It truly is one system of exercises for everyone.

Give me some time, and I’m sure my relationship will change and grow with Pilates. The learning never ends. There’s always more to uncover. This may very well be the reason why I love Pilates. It’s a love affair!

But here we go – my definition of Pilates in headlines, if you will:

Strengthen what’s weak, stretch what’s tight, tightens what’s loose, and balance what’s strong.
Work on stability for more mobility.
Get longer, lighter, stronger, taller.
We’re here to connect, not perfect.
Go for progress, measured in millimeters, not perfection.
Work the whole body and mind – head to toes, side to side, front to back, and back again.

Sound good – ready to book a class? Contact us if you have more questions!