| I was outside basking in the warm sun enjoying the | | | | needed to change what I knew about fitness. By the |
| day when my phone conversation brought sadness to | | | | third class, I was hooked. It challenged my mind in a |
| me. My friend started to complain about soreness | | | | way that I had never had with fitness. Movement has |
| from work and how he doesn't go to the gym for | | | | always been easy for me to master, but this had so |
| pleasure. He feels an obligation to fitness and thus | | | | many levels. I was retraining how I moved in general |
| chained to a gym life. However, it was in this moment | | | | creating new connections with my mind and working |
| that I realized my freedom from the gym as well as | | | | muscles I didn't know existed. It wasn't about how |
| sadness that Pilates still gets a bad rap. Either people | | | | much I could bench press, but rather how I could use all |
| don't know what Pilates is or think it is mainly for | | | | my muscles to create a movement. I didn't feel |
| women. Or my favorite Pilates is hard and is a fad to | | | | exhausted after class. Actually I was energized and |
| be combined with other fitness crazes. I know and | | | | was motivated to accomplish my daily tasks. More |
| understand the importance of Pilates in every single | | | | importantly, it wasn't torture. I actually liked this thing |
| person's life, but how do you translate it when it has | | | | called Pilates. |
| such a bad rap? Pilates is about freeing the body, mind, | | | | As I continued on my Pilates journey, my gym |
| and spirit to find your natural rhythm in life. | | | | obsession slowly dissipated. I looked forward to my |
| I was your typical workout addict from my youngest | | | | Pilates class and even practiced at home. More |
| years. In fifth grade, I would wake up religiously every | | | | importantly, my pain started to ease, I gained my |
| morning at 5 A.M. to do the Mickey Mouse Club | | | | confidence, had a new zest for life, and started to |
| workout. I can't say I ever did this workout to have fun. | | | | socialize again. Pilates destroyed my black cloud. I truly |
| I would wake up early and perform these exercises | | | | had been returned to life. I started to change my |
| because that is what you did to stay in shape. This | | | | thought patterns about fitness and life in general. I didn't |
| obsession continued through the various sports that I | | | | need to be chained to the gym mentality anymore. |
| played. Even over the summer, I would ride my bike to | | | | You may ask why share this story with you about my |
| the high school, lift weights, and then shoot hoops. And | | | | Pilates experience? Because every time I hear |
| that was all before basketball or volleyball camp would | | | | someone say Pilates is too hard, for women, just |
| start. | | | | another fad, or it hurts, my heart sinks. For some |
| Then the college years started and my obsession | | | | reason, Pilates has lost its essence to a mass |
| turned to roller blading, sit ups, push ups, and running. | | | | commercialized product. It is good that the masses |
| Can't say I ever enjoyed any of this torture. I felt | | | | know about Pilates. But do they really understand |
| obligated to stay in shape and didn't know of any | | | | what Pilates is and how it can benefit them? Everyone |
| alternatives. Nor did I want any other alternatives. It | | | | should do Pilates not only for physical fitness, but for |
| was perfectly fine to continue with this torture | | | | the mental fitness. I now know that no matter how |
| because that is what you do to stay in shape, right? | | | | much time I tortured myself with exercise my black |
| I continued my obsession with exercise torture until a | | | | cloud would have found me. I needed to change how I |
| black cloud challenged my soul. I started my bowling | | | | moved and my concept of fitness. I was lucky to find |
| approach to only yelp in pain as I threw the ball in the | | | | a Pilates instructor that was true to the work rather |
| gutter. Against my better judgment, I fought through | | | | than enticed by the mass production to start my path |
| the low back pain to continue bowling. But, the black | | | | to freedom. |
| cloud was stronger than I was. I figured the pain would | | | | I can tell you that Pilates physically is about balancing |
| be relieved after a hot bath. Only that was not the | | | | the muscles by strengthening with flexibility, working the |
| case. The pain was so unbearable that I couldn't sleep, | | | | deeper smaller muscles to create more effective and |
| followed by more pain the next day. Walking was no | | | | efficient movement patterns, maintaining spinal flexibility, |
| easy feat as I shuffled in a hunched position. I was one | | | | and flushing the system to detoxify. Or I can say that |
| step away from needing a walker to move around. | | | | mentally Pilates is about reconnecting the neuropaths |
| Once I regained an upright position again, I started back | | | | between the brain and muscles/movements for |
| on my gym obsession. I was determined to not let this | | | | control, moving with concentration and precision to |
| happen again. There was only one little problem. I was | | | | retrain movement patterns, and calms the mind to |
| in constant pain. If you have ever had constant pain, | | | | focus. This explains what Pilates is from scientific |
| you know the toll physically and mentally. After awhile, | | | | perspective, but it doesn't tell you what is at the |
| you just deal with the pain. There is only pain and | | | | essence of Pilates. |
| extreme pain. Most don't even think you are in pain | | | | Today I am pain free, move better than I did when I |
| because you hide it, but in reality you are miserable. | | | | was a teenager, stronger than I have ever been, and |
| One little movement and I would be on the couch laid | | | | have a desire to live life to the fullest. Joseph once |
| up for the weekend. | | | | said that you don't need to lift weights. You don't see |
| Soon my black cloud was controlling my life. I was | | | | animals lifting weights. I don't lift weights or do mindless |
| depressed followed by bouts of anger. No matter | | | | sit ups. I practice Pilates and yoga with a side of fun. I |
| what exercise I did, the pain still continued. It affected | | | | run because it invigorates me rather than as a chore |
| every aspect of my life until a point where I was | | | | to be completed. My black could would have |
| trapped by my black cloud. I sunk deeper into | | | | determined my life if I didn't free my body, mind, and |
| depression, lost confidence, was miserable at my job, | | | | spirit through Pilates. |
| and struggled in my relationships. If I had this much pain | | | | My list of accomplishments continues to grow and I |
| and misery at 27, what did the rest of my future hold | | | | know that Pilates is a major contributor. I have |
| for me? And then there was a ray of light that | | | | received my Masters, belly danced, whitewater rafted, |
| showed me that I could emerge. That light was Pilates. | | | | ziplined, opened my own business, helped others return |
| I didn't choose Pilates because of my back pain. I was | | | | to life, and the list continues. Mostly, I am able to spend |
| just following my gym obsession and Pilates was the | | | | time with those closest to me with a zest for life. I |
| hot workout. | | | | have found my natural rhythm within me, with my |
| The first session was extremely long as it felt like all | | | | connection to others, and life in general. I hope you too |
| we did was breath for an hour. I almost didn't come | | | | find your natural rhythm with Pilates. Because that is |
| back for the second class. I didn't realize then that I | | | | what Pilates truly is! |