Why Pilates? Why You?

Since opening pilates done wright, the two questions I get asked most often are:

1. “When did you start Pilates?”
2. "Why did your start Pilates?"

When people think "Pilates instructor," they usually picture a young, thin fitness model. Naturally, I worried was too old, too large or too health challenged to do Pilates, let alone be a Pilates Instructor (some days, I still do!)
 
So, before you ask, I'll answer:

When and why did I start Pilates?  
 
I started in Pilates a little over ten years ago. Like most of us, I simply wanted to “get in shape.” As a member of a national health club chain, I had tried it all: the aerobics, weight training, stair master, swimming and treadmill routines.  
    
One quiet Sunday, I spotted the Pilates reformers in the rooms near the yoga classes I was trying to love. After finding out that I would have to pay extra on top of my monthly gym fee to take private sessions with a  trainer, I was hesitant.  But eventually, I convinced myself that it might be worth paying for a few sessions. During the first session, I remember loving the feeling of lengthening my muscles with movement. I decided to pursue both mat and reformer classes, but I was told I would not (and never would be), allowed to practice on the reformer by myself. This was slightly infuriating to me; after several sessions I was quite sure I knew enough to proceed independently. After all, I was rehabilitation therapist and Pilates wasn’t really that complicated, right?
 
I continued with the large health club chain reformer classes until a friend referred me to a much smaller, local Pilates fitness center. I started private training sessions with a lovely, somewhat “typical” Pilates instructor: a former dancer with a long, lean graceful body that made my 6 foot, large-framed body feel a bit awkward and unrefined. Despite her reassurances I was progressing in Pilates, I found myself sweating - not perspiring - as I willingly struggled to complete the movements she so easily demonstrated.
 
Nevertheless, as they say, I persisted. Over the course of five-six years, I ended up working with Kandace, a true goddess of a Pilates trainer. She is a fully certified Pilates instructor, with numerous other credentials as well. Kandace is the one who helped give me the flexibility, strength and confidence I needed when in August of 2016, I decided to look into acquiring my Pilates trainer certification.
 
After conferring with my most trusted consultants (my husband and two daughters), who quickly encouraged me to “go for it”, I gave my credit card to a woman at the only facility in Minnesota accredited to provide this education and credential.

I thought my background in hand therapy, familiarity with anatomy, “years” of Pilates experience would all make this a fun, maybe not too difficult challenge. LOL. No truly, go ahead and laugh out loud. What was I thinking? A fifty-six-year-old body with a complex medical history, numerous back/knee/shoulder injuries and NO fitness training??? 
 
While attending my first course, I very quickly realized not only the strength and physical mastery I would need to acquire, but the anatomy, training skills, queuing and literally hundreds of exercises I would need to memorize both in body and mind. I now look back at my naivete in every step of this process and yes, I laugh out loud little. 
 
But after successfully becoming STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor in May of 2017, I am confident I can provide professional, fun, and helpful training for my clients. My overall attitude towards Pilates is a healthy respect for all there is yet to know, learn and experience; I am consistently gaining new techniques and strategies and utilizing them in my practice with clients. 
 
pilates done wright take-aways:
 

• It’s not too late. Start today, or any day.
• Accept yourself - where you're at.
• Nearly anybody and any body can participate in Pilates
• Pilates is a practice, a process.  
• Assumptions are often wrong. (About Pilates, but especially about yourself).

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