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.