How Pilates changed my Life!

Core strength has definitely become a trendy phrase these days, but if you have it your body moves more efficiently and and your body is well protected from injury. I had poor posture most of my adolescents maybe it was because I was 5'7 at the age of 9. Talk about being awkward and the teasing well that's a whole other story. But there is nothing worse than having chronic back pain, and living with it daily. After having two major car accidents and left with whip lash and some serious neck injuries (only cause I was 23 and thought I would heal by myself-so stupid!!!) After finally being sick of hurting all the time at such a young age, I started doing Pilates at my gym and quickly fell in love with it. Flash Forward 5 years and having to relocate almost 3 hours away. I found a Chiropractor who actually sat down and talked to me about what I needed to do to fix my neck and back so I wouldn't need major surgery by the time I was 35. Pilates fell into my lap as my mom decided to pull her small studio out of the house and open a store front. With business taking off, I was working hard on my core to fix the underlying back injuries, then I decided to get my certification and help other people in chronic pain. I felt myself get stronger and stronger. My posture was so much better, I was actually getting compliments for the first time in my life how great my posture was. That blew my mind! So I continued to practice Pilates almost everyday and Boy! did my body feel so much better, I slept better, I could do so much more-(being an avid gardener, this helped out with lots of heavy gardening!) Last year I found out I was having a baby and I worked out every day, worked 40+ hours a week, only gained 18 pounds in the 10 months of carrying her, and only had about 5 real hours of labour before she arrived. Pilates gave me the strength to carry a baby full term with no complications, still work out and work, still garden and do things that I always loved to do. And my back pain seemed to be mostly gone. Now carrying a 6.5 month old that weighs over 20 pounds, and still fighting to get my core strength back after having a baby (which takes a while, if you're a normal human and don't have an Au pair and 5 free hours to workout everyday) My back pain is back and my posture has taken a detour, but determined to get it back and quickly. Pilates is my number one choice and I still make an effort to do at least 3 days a week. Once you stop doing it you lose the benefits, kind of like dieting once you come off your diet you gain your weight back. Once you stop Pilates you fall back into old habits and incorrect movements. Pilates has changed my life and I guarantee it will continue to. Now if someone could figure out how to add extra hours in a days time and how not to be exhausted as a new mom, I could conquer the world.

Pilates At Any Age

The most asked question we get as Pilates Instructors is "Who can do Pilates?" Usually it's men asking the question for themselves, ironically Joesph Pilates developed his exercises first for men recovering from their injuries in the war. And then later after moving to New York City, focused Pilates towards Gymnasts and Ballet dancers. Today you usually see women on a mat in advertisements and DVDs. But in reality, Pilates is for anyone, no matter your age, race, gender, injury or disability. And it's not just Mat exercises. Today you can take a Mat class in most gyms and studios. But the Pilates equipment,...the Reformer, the Wunda Chair, the Cadillac, Ladder Barrel, Contour Bench, etc. is where people are finding the best benefits for their health, fitness level, or recovery from injury or surgery.
So almost anyone can do Pilates, from infants-like my 6 month old daughter who has mastered leg circles just from watching my clients to my oldest client who's 85 with Osteoporosis and comes 3 days a week and loves it! You can be a man or woman, short or tall, an athlete or couch potato, have chronic back pain from poor posture or be post-rehab after knee surgery. We've had clients who've have greatly benefited from Pilates after their stroke, Hip replacements, back surgery, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, Pre-Natal, and Post Natal. Pilates is for everyone! And actually if everyone did practice some sort of Pilates, people would be in less pain and guaranteed to visit their doctors less frequently. So what are you waiting for, where's the nearest studio???

The Beginning

So today starts the beginning of my blog. As a writer, it's a new project started and also something to make me write everyday or atleast almost everyday. As a Pilates instructor and a Pilates Lover it's the beginning of a new journey. It's embarking on a new way of thinking and learning. It's the beginning of understanding each individual's needs, desires, and healing process using the Pilates Principles. I first started Pilates almost 8 years ago, just taking mat classes 2 days a week in a gym. I loved them! As an athlete my entire life, Pilates gave me a different kind of challenge every week. My instructor was hard core! My first class we were doing push ups, open leg rocker, and corkscrew. I left class thinking "Wow, I just got my butt kicked." I continued my two days a week for 5 years, before moving back to where I grew up. My Mom had a small studio in her home, with just one Reformer and one Wunda chair. I quickly became her understudy, geting my mat certification and then two years later finishing up my full certification with BASI. Now our little studio, has become a booming store front with what seems like a revolving door, six days a week. Which there are no complaints with this economy, it's incredible to see so many people take interest in something that not many had heard of 20 years ago. And it's even more incredible that people are taking care of themselves more and more and that Pilates can help anyone, no matter their age, race, gender, or disability.