Session 30

I just wanted to take a moment to wrap things up about my experience over the last ten weeks. My experience has been amazing, everything I thought it would be and more. Just a few short sessions into this journey I noticed that my lower back pain was gone and my posture and spinal health improved. As I had hoped I also have more energy too. So many Saturday mornings it is hard to be motivated to get up and start moving, but those days when I start my out with Pilates I have more energy throughout the day.

Pilates is for everyone. It does not matter what kind of physical shape you are in or how old you are; Pilates will help improve your overall health and well being. I even surprised myself when after just a couple of weeks I was able to do more intermediate exercises, and my Teaser keeps getting better too!

Pilates is never dull or boring. While there is somewhat of a script and order to the exercises, there are so many variations that can be done. Props like the Magic Circle or weights can be added and each exercise has modifications which can increase the challenge or ease any muscle tension. It is important to find a studio like BodyMind Balance that has all of the Pilates apparatus available for use. Pilates is not meant to be done on the Reformer alone. Many of the exercises can be performed on several pieces of the equipment because it will engage the muscles in a new way.

Lastly I have seen changes to my physique. Since my posture is improved I do feel like I stand/sit up taller. My waist is more defined and I have lost some inches around my waist and hips. (Most of my pants are baggier!) I have noticed that my calf muscles are more toned as well.

This is not the end of my journey. As I continue to practice I still plan to share with all of you my thoughts on Pilates, and my victories as I conquer the Teaser, the Chair, etc. I hope you will consider starting your own Pilates Journey too. You don’t have to do it alone. Join me for mat class at 10:00am on Saturday.

Session 29

Today marks Session 29. Wow, what an amazing journey this has been so far. Before I wrap things up with my 30th session I want to take a moment to express my gratitude and thanks!

First to the followers! Thank you for following my journey. I am so grateful that you have taken time to read my blog and discuss it with me. Your kind words have meant more than you will ever know.

Second to my family! Thank you for your love and support! Thank you for helping watch Natalie when I had evening sessions. Most importantly, thank you to my husband, Charlie and daughter, Natalie. Hon, thank you for your support as I came up with this idea and searched for a studio that would allow me to start my journey, thank you for the encouragement and understanding as I took classes. To Natalie, it warms my heart when you ask “Mommy, how was Pilates?” or “Mommy, watch me I am doing Pilates!” I cannot wait until you are old enough and we can go to Pilates together on Saturday morning.

Lastly, this all wouldn’t have been possible without the permission of BodyMind Balance owner, Julie and the instruction from Kelly. Julie, I want to thank you for working with me and helping me as I started on this journey. I have enjoyed my experience with at your studio with your staff. All of the instructors I have worked with have so much passion for Pilates and truly care about the student’s health and well being. Kelly, I want to thank you for instruction over the last ten weeks. You always seemed to know when I needed a little push in my practice or encouragement.

Thank you all!

Mary

Session 28

When I am in my Pilates classes it is so important to stay focused and not let my mind wander and think about other things. I find if I am not concentrating 100% on the exercises then I do not hold the position as well. As much as I try to stay focused though sometimes find I compare myself to my other classmates. I was particularly frustrated because I have having trouble doing The Rollover. I thought to myself, “I have done 27 sessions of Pilates; I should be able to do this.” Thankfully before I let this frustration spiral out of control and affect the rest of my session, I was able to put myself in check. It is important to remember that so much of Pilates working at your own ability that often times not everyone in the class does an exercise the same way. Nearly every Pilates exercise has some sort of modification to fit an individual’s ability. And one’s ability may change from day to day depending on how there body is feeling; just because I can fully do an exercise today doesn’t mean I will do it the same way tomorrow. I also had to remind myself as I looked at the other members of the class that some of them have been practicing Pilates for over a year or maybe even over five years. Instead of looking at those students and saying “I should be at that level and do the Rollover too” I need to tell myself, “When I have been practicing as long as they have, I will be able to do The Rollover.”

Session 27

The Teaser is one of the most challenging exercises in Pilates and it is one that I am determined to master. I have already seen big improvements since I started Pilates nine weeks ago, but I still have a lot of room for improvement.

There are a lot of modifications available for this exercise, but ultimately my body should be in a V-shape with my both my torso and legs at a 45 degree angle to the floor while being balanced on my tailbone. The Teaser improves balance and coordination, works the powerhouse. There is a lot happening when doing this exercise. Not only is the power house engaged, but it is important to keep the chest lifted, arms strong, and the legs strong and “glued” together. As I am able to improve my Teaser I know that I am improving in my practice of Pilates altogether

Session 26

Some of the exercises in Pilates are just plain fun. I must admit the first few times I did Rolling like a Ball and The Seal I felt a little silly. But now that I am more familiar with the order of the Pilates routine, I look forward to these exercises. Rolling like a Ball works the abdomen, improves balance and massages the spine. It seems easy enough, but the key is not using momentum to complete the roll and making sure each vertebra touches the mat. I start by sitting on the mat with my knees bent toward my chest and hands on my ankles. I lift my feet off the mat and balance and tuck my chin to my chest. My spine will be nice and rounded. As I inhale I pull my abs in and up and fall back and at the exhale I roll back up using my abs to pull me up and not momentum. When I come back up I balance on my tailbone again. There is another exercise that is very similar to this one, it is the Open-Leg Rocker and instead of being tucked into a ball, my legs are straight and I try to hold onto my ankles. The other rolling exercise is The Seal. This is often done in the cool down phase of the class. The purpose is to massage the spinal muscles, work the powerhouse and test balance and coordination. For this exercise I sit with my knees bent to my chest and heels together. I open my knees the width of my shoulder and dive my hands through my legs and hold onto the backs of my ankles. On the inhale I have roll back pulling my feet with me and roll to my shoulders. Then I clap my legs together like a seal clapping its flippers. On the exhale roll forward tucking my chin to my chest, when balancing on my tailbone I clap my feet together again. These exercises are usually repeated five – eight times.

Session 25

On Thursday I had my usual session with Kelly, but instead of being a private session there was another student in the session as well. It is very common for studios to offer duet or even trio sessions along with private sessions. It was nice change of pace to have a partner for the session; she has been practicing Pilates for a few years. I liked being able to see her do the exercises and see the proper form and technique. It was a good way to gauge whether or not my body is positioned correctly and also to push myself a little further in my practice.

Session 24

There is another series of exercises that I do during every mat session. It is the Side Kick Series. It consists of the following: Front/Back, Up/Down, Small Circles, Inner-Thigh Lifts, and Bicycle. The body position for all of these exercises is the same, lie on my side with elbow, shoulder, midback, and buttock aligned with the back of the mat and my legs position at an angle toward the front of my mat. The core should be engaged to keep the torso stable, and lengthen the back of the neck away from the shoulders and the top hip toward the feet. The first exercise is Front/Back. Start by lifting the top leg to hip height. Then inhale and swing the leg to the front and pulse it twice on the exhale swing the leg back. The torso should stay completely stable and do ten reps. Move into Up/Down on the inhale lift the top leg to the ceiling and the exhale resist gravity on the way down stretching the leg long. Complete five sets and prep for Small Circles. For Small Circles lift the top heels just above the bottom heals and begin circling the leg from the hip in a forward motion. Complete five circles and reverse. For Inner-thigh lifts I lift the top foot and cross it in front of the bottom with the foot flat on the floor. I extend the straight leg out long and raise it off the floor, turn the heel slighting toward the ceiling. Lift and lower the without letting it touch the mat. I do this five to ten times then do ten small pulses upward then five circles in each direction. The next exercise is the Bicycle. I swing my top leg back as if pushing on the pedal of a very large bicycle, bending my knee behind me and bringing my heel to your buttock for a stretch in the hip and knee. Then bringing the bent knee past my outstretch knee and toward my shoulder. Extend my leg out in front of me as if pushing forward on the pedal and cycle by swinging your straight leg back to repeat the motion. I usually do this three times in each direction. After these series is over, I switch and exercise the other side.