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.

Session 23

So in mat class on Saturday I was moving through exercises like Single Straight Leg Stretch and Open Leg Rocker where I have to hold on to my ankles. First thing I noticed was that I was actually able to grab my ankles!!!!! I have definitely noticed increase flexibility since I have started. I also noticed that my calves look different. The calf muscles are definitely toned and look leaner. As exciting as that was though, as I was doing the double straight leg stretch I also noticed that I looked slimmer in the hips!!!! It is very exciting noticing these changes.

Session 22

I have a new appreciation for the “Ab or Stomach series” of exercises. This is a series of five exercises called: Single Leg Stretch, Double Leg Stretch, Single straight Leg Stretch, Double straight Leg Stretch, and Crisscross. The common goal for all of these exercises is working the Powerhouse, staying lifted and perfectly still in the torso while your arms and legs move. Typically in my sessions I only do five to ten sets of each of these exercises, but with all Pilates exercises, if I focus and do the exercise correctly I find that number to be quite effective.

I start each of these exercises the same way, lie on the mat and bring my chin to my chest, lifting my back and keeping my eyes on my belly. For Single Leg Stretch I pull my right leg towards my chest with my left hand on my knee and my right hand on my shin or ankle, simultaneously I extend my left leg out toward the opposite wall. Then I exhale and switch legs. Once I have completed the reps for this exercise I bring both legs in to my chest for a stretch and move into Double Leg Stretch. Double Leg Stretch is similar to single leg. I inhale deeply and stretch my body long reaching my arms back by my ears and my legs long in front of me. Again my torso should remain firmly anchored and head lifted. At the exhale I draw my knees back to my chest while circling my arms around to meet them. I end by pulling both knees to my chest then move into Single Straight Leg Stretch. In Single Straight Leg Stretch, sometimes this is referred to as scissors I extend the right leg toward the ceiling and grab the ankle and my left leg is long toward the opposite wall (I still modify this exercise so both legs are relatively straight toward the ceiling.) As I inhale I pull my right leg toward me twice, exhale and switch legs repeating the same movements. For each of these exercises there can be modifications made to them, starting out you can keep your head and shoulders on the floor or even your legs straight up towards the ceiling. The fourth exercise in this series is Double Straight Leg Stretch, this is where I find things get really challenging. Again I start with my chin to chest and torso anchored to the floor. I extend my legs to the ceiling and squeeze my inner thighs together. For this exercise I place my hands behind my neck, but remember all movement is coming from the Powerhouse. With my Powerhouse engaged I inhale and lower my legs toward the mat for three counts. I stop lowering them when I feel my back arch off of the mat. Then I exhale and raise my legs toward the ceiling. Once I have completed these reps, I prepare for Crisscross. In Crisscross I keep my hands behind my neck, extend my right leg out long and twist my upper body to reach my armpit to my left knee. The goal is to lift and twist from the waist to work the obliques, keep the elbows extended out (don’t fold them in to reach the knee) and try not to rock from side to side, keep the torso steady. Typically after the series is complete, I have to do the toughest roll up so that I can move into Spine Stretch Forward.

As challenging as these exercises I appreciate them because I realize how far I have become since I started practicing. During my initial sessions, we only did the first three in the series, now I do all five. Initially I was not able to keep my head and shoulders lifted for the entire series, now I can. I also feel more comfortable with the transitions between each of the exercises as well.

Session 21

Throughout this process I have talked to many people who said that they would love to try Pilates, but they feel nervous about going to a studio or mat class alone. So this is my invitation to you…I think the best way to experience Pilates for the first time is a mat class. I will be at the Saturday morning mat class on the following Saturdays: April 9^th, April, 16^th, April 23^rd. If you want to try Pilates and feel more comfortable knowing that you will know at least one other person in the class then join me! Visit the BodyMind Balance website to register and pay for the class or click here and go to the classes tab to register. Since I have been doing the Saturday morning mat class, it has become my favorite way to start the day. I find that I have more energy throughout the day when I begin with Pilates.

Session 20

“…you’ll look better in twenty…”

I can’t believe I have just reached my twentieth session. Wow the changes I have seen. My posture has improved so much that I do feel like I am walking taller. The other big change I noticed is that I feel like my torso has more definition to it and my waist has gotten smaller. I have increased muscle tone in my calves and my arms as well.

While I hope to eventually lose weight that is not my ultimate reason for practicing Pilates, so I haven’t been obsessed about watching that scale. With that said, I have noticed that several pairs of my pants are baggier than usual!

Session 19

For this entry I have asked my instructor Kelly to tell a little about herself, her training, and thoughts on how our sessions are going...

Hi, this is Kelly Planck, Mary’s Pilates teacher. I have been practicing Pilates for over 8 years and have been focusing and practicing classical Pilates for almost a year now. I am an apprentice at Body Mind Balance, now 300 hours into my 600 required hours. I will test out of 300, 400, and get certified after testing at 600 hours. All of my tests include a practical and a written part. When approached with the opportunity to work with Mary on this project, I am excited. What better testament to my teaching, right? Yikes, all of the worst case scenarios also went through my head. What if I am not inspiring or effective? Well, I am only getting my feet wet with teaching but I was up for the challenge. Good or bad, this is what it’s all about.

When I met Mary she was nervous and excited to get started. We started with Beginner system, focusing on precision and abdominal connection. I can see she is determined to do well and I admire her enthusiasm. After about 3 to 4 sessions, I can see she is improving. She is able to keep her head and shoulders up throughout the ab series. She no longer has to stop for water between each exercise. She has told me her lower back pain is gone. This is inspiring in itself and we’re both excited to see progress.

We’re now about half way through Mary’s experiment. I am noticing so many improvements in Mary since our first session. She is definitely getting stronger and moves with more fluidity through her workout. The best and most promising thing is, she is truly connecting with her powerhouse and moving correctly through each exercise. While doing a roll up last week, I had a small celebration in my head watching her. She rolled up her spine with control, lengthened her spine long over her legs, pulled her abdominals in and up, all while maintaining shoulder connection. She then rolled all the way down her spine one vertebra at a time, keeping her abdominals in an up the whole time. “Woo Hoo!” I then watched her move correctly through several other exercises in our system without my having to cue her. This is so exciting. My job as teacher is to help people move correctly in their bodies on a consistent basis. Once a client is able to connect with their powerhouse and is conscience of how their body should feel moving and sedentary, they will continue to improve no matter what. Mary is able to connect and understands the correct movement of each exercise. This allows us to progress and challenge her even more.

I see Mary at the mat class on Saturday’s along with our two sessions. She can hold her own in the class and I am so proud at how far she has come. Last week, while we were talking, I noticed a physical difference in her as well. She looks smaller and more defined. Yay!! I am so happy for her. While Pilates is not in itself a weight loss program, it most certainly is a gateway to a healthier body and lifestyle. It is a life change and will give more energy to the body and mind. As a mother of 3 young girls, I can attest that Pilates gives me the energy and strength I need to keep up with them. One of Mary’s goals and reasons for taking on this challenge is to have more energy and to be a better example for her daughter. She is achieving that. I know she will continue to grow and will inspire others with her testimonial. I am so happy to go through this with her and hope I can continue to encourage her as she moves forward.
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Session 18

I recently received the unfortunate news that I was being laid off from my job. This can be a lot to process, but I feel that Pilates will help me through this time for a few reasons. One…I am moving my private sessions with Kelly to the morning or early afternoon. The good thing about this is it will help me maintain my schedule. I know if I didn’t have anything planned for the day my daughter and I would likely lounge around in our pj’s most of the day, which would inevitably undo what I have worked so hard to accomplish. Two…Because the practice of Pilates requires so much focus, for at least three hours a week I know I won’t be dwelling on what happened, what am I going to do about a new job etc. It will give me three hours a week of me time. Three…since I began this journey I have increased self confidence. That has given me the perspective to not take this whole thing so personally and know deep down that there is a better opportunity out there for me. Four…since Pilates has improved my posture I will “walk taller when I attend interviews.”

Session 17

Another exercise that I do during each session is the Roll-up. The Roll-up works the powerhouse and stretches the hamstrings. The exercise should be rhythmic and the motion should be fluid. I start by lying on my back with my legs extended, feet flexed and arms overhead, as I inhale I raise my arms toward the ceiling all while keeping my core pulled in and up. As I exhale, raise my arms in front of me and slowly roll up. The movement should come from the powerhouse and the legs and feet should remain anchored to the mat as you roll up and reach for your toes. Then use your core again to roll back and each vertebra should touch the mat. I typically repeat this a few times and it is also used to transition between different exercises. The spine should be articulated onto the mat as I roll up and down. This is another one of those principals that is repeated throughout so many of the Pilates exercises. I think it is one of the reasons I have seen so much improvement in my back and posture overall.

Session 16

As my sessions progress, Kelly continues to introduce new exercises. As I mentioned before, this variety makes each session feel new. However, there are a few exercises that I do every time I practice Pilates. Today I am going to talk about The Hundred. The Hundred is a breathing exercise. It is meant to begin circulating your blood to warm up the body for the exercises to follow. This is almost always one of the first exercises I do at each session.

To do this exercise I lie on my back with my knees bent to my chest. As I prepare for the exercise I deeply inhale, and as I exhale I focus on my belly sinking deeper into the mat. The goal is to keep my head lifted, while supporting the Powerhouse, and no strain should be felt in the neck. I stretch my arms out beside me, as if I am trying to touch the opposite wall with my fingertips and I begin pumping my arms. This is all done while inhaling for five counts and exhaling for five counts until I have done ten sets.

When I first starting practicing I did a few modifications to this exercise. I was not able to keep my head lifted the entire time, so I would rest it. Now I am able to keep it lifted the entire time. I also originally kept my legs in table top position, now I am able to extend them to a forty-five degree angle. I have done this exercise during both mat work and on the Reforming holding the straps down to my side as I pump my arms.

Session 15

Pilates vs. Yoga, what’s the difference?…Since I have started practicing Pilates I have been asked this question quite a bit. Not knowing how to explain the difference myself, I turned to the owner of Body Mind Balance, Julie, for an explanation.

“Pilates is about stability and strength through body organization from the powerhouse (or core area). Equipment is used to challenge and support that connection. Yoga is about stretch primarily using your own body weight for strength. Depending on who you work with alignment
may or may not be emphasized, and there is a huge variety of challenge
to yoga. A lot of positions in yoga are held for long periods of time,
this is not the case in Pilates as you are always moving and building
to where you are continuing each exercise into the next through
transitions.”

There is also philosophical difference between the systems Yoga is based on the Eastern idea of moving energy through your body. It is a holistic spiritual discipline with its roots in Eastern forms of meditation. The physical postures, although they condition the body, are really aimed at the mind. They symbolize the goal of living your life in the state of balance and composure.

Pilates is physical conditioning first and foremost. The exercises stretch and strengthen and are unique in their ability to encourage coordination between the muscles that stabilize the body. (Additional information provide through iVillage.com & Kathy Smith Which is better, Yoga or Pilates?)

Session 14

So I have decided that in the world of Pilates the Chair is my new nemesis. Of all of the Pilates apparatus’ it seems least intimidating, but thus far it has proven to be most challenging for me. Joseph Pilates “developed the chair to stretch and strengthen muscle groups which are no easily reached by more traditional techniques and equipment. It provides exercises that offer great balance and control of the body. It is the basis of an entire range of advanced Pilates exercises,” from the Pilates Method.

The Chair can be used for a variety of exercises. At the front of the Chair there is a pedal that is attached by springs. Most of the exercises require me to place my hands or feet on the pedal and push down while keeping my Powerhouse engaged. Some of the other exercises like the Pull Up require me to step on the pedal with both feet, places my hands on the back edge of the chair and use only my Powerhouse to raise the pedal. It sounds simple enough but it is pretty challenging.

I have also seen more advanced students doing the Ab Series of workouts while on the Chair. By doing the Ab series on the Chair it really forces you to keep your Powerhouse engaged to support your head and shoulders because you do not have the mat or the Reformer to rely on for support.

Session 13

Yet another thing I love about Pilates is that it does not get boring. I would say for my first few sessions on the various apparatuses Kelly had me go through the same routine so that I was comfortable with the exercises and the breathing, but by the fourth and fifth session she changed it up a bit. Kelly either started me on the Cadillac then moved me to the reformer or vice versa; or she added in new exercises. During part of my session this evening I used the tower. The tower is multi-functional. It can be used for mat work, or the springs and bar can be used for various leg and arm work. Today when I used the tower, Kelly attached the bar and springs so that I could do the footwork series. Until now we had only done the footwork series on the reformer. By doing the series on the tower it engages my muscles a different way and reiterates the importance of focus as I practice Pilates.

Session 12

Well today I arrived at Body Mind Balance for my Saturday morning mat class as usual. However, instead of being in the mat class, I participated in a session with Carly. Carly is currently an apprentice instructor working on her certification. As part of her training Carly has recorded 600 hours of practice and/or instruction and is now in the testing phase. The test includes a written section, oral section and also an instruction section in which Carly had to instruct someone at a beginner level and at an intermediate level at the same time. From my observation the training and testing for Pilates certification is quite comprehensive and it just goes to show the passion and dedication the instructors at Body Mind Balance have for the practice of Pilates.

For today’s session I was the beginner student and Kelly, my instructor, was the intermediate student. While Kelly and I moved through the exercise at our own pace, I did enjoy participating in the session with her as a student as well.

There is one thing I noticed about myself today. I am learning the names of the exercises and do not always have to be reminded of how to position my body. For example when I am queued for the exercise, Elephant, I know I need to be on the reformer with my heals placed in front of the shoulder pads and hands on the bar. Because of this I feel like I am transition better between exercises.

Session 11

When I came home from Pilates this evening I was met by my very energetic daughter, Natalie who wanted to tell me all about her day. She was so excited and talking very fast, I could barely understand what she was telling me. Then suddenly she got very quiet and serious and looked right at me and said, “Mom how was Pilates?” It was the sweetest thing ever. I answered, “Natalie it was great. Thank you for asking.” I share this story because Natalie is the biggest reason I wanted to start practicing Pilates. Before I was practicing Pilates I was constantly feeling run down and out of energy. As mentioned previously I have already noticed an increase in my energy levels. Also, I want to be a good example for her to lead a healthy lifestyle. She has learned that Pilates is now a part of my Saturday morning routine. The last few Saturdays she has even asked if she can come to Pilates with me. She is a little young now, but I would love it if in 10 years we spend our Saturday morning practicing Pilates together.

Session 10

Wow, I can’t believe that today was my 10^th session already. What surprises me even more is how I have progressed with each session. Today Kelly decided to challenge me and we began doing more intermediate exercises. Before we started I thought to myself, “I don’t know if I ready for this, but I will give it a try.” I surprised myself. The exercises were more challenging, but I was able to complete all of them. Kelly even had me doing some of the Teaser prep exercises with modifications.

Well Joseph Pilates said, “After ten sessions you will feel better…” And I have to agree with that statement. Here are some ways I am feeling better:

-Before I started Pilates I was considering going to a chiropractor, because my back was constantly aching. Now I have very little back pain. My posture has improved and I feel like I am “walking taller.”

-I don’t feel nearly as stiff and sore when I get out of bed first thing in the morning.

-My knees don’t hurt as much when I go up and down the stairs.

-I have more energy overall.

Session 9

Today was another Saturday morning mat class. I am finding that when I start my morning with a mat class, I have more energy throughout the day. Carly taught my class today and she was great. She challenged and encouraged me to work harder than I have ever done before.

Each mat class I have taken at Body Mind Balance has been unique. While each class consists of many of the same exercises each instructor makes it their own. Sometimes the instructor will use props. For one session we used The Magic Circle. “This apparatus helps to gain balance, strengthen the muscles in the arms and chest, strengthen and reshape the leg muscles and pelvis, and increase control of the Powerhouse.” (from The Pilates Method). For another session I used weights. In Pilates the weights help tone loose muscles and develop weak area of the body. We used 2 lb. weights in the class, it does not seem like much weight, but by the end of the class they feel like they weigh much, much more. Even though I did a lot of the same exercises as my private session, using the props helps engage my muscles in a whole new way.

Session 8

I am currently reading two books about Pilates: The Pilates Method of Body Conditioning by Sean P. Gallagher & Romana Kryzanowska and The Pilates Body by Brook Siler. They have been very helpful. Both of them break down the exercises step-by-step which is nice. On days when I do not have sessions at Body Mind Balance, I will practice one or two of the exercises and it just helps reinforce what I have already learned. It also occurred to me as I was reading the books that a lot of people probably do not what Pilates' philosophy was or that fact that Joseph Pilates was a real person.

Both books give a brief biography of Joseph Pilates. Here is an abridged version from The Pilates Method.

“Joseph Pilates was born in German in 1880. He was a sickly child and dedicated his entire life to becoming physically stronger. Pilates studied and became proficient at body building, diving, skiing, and gymnastics.

In 1912 moved to England and was a boxer, circus performer, and self-defense trainer of English detectives. After World War I broke out he was interned on the Isle of Man where he became a nurse in the camp and trained other internees in physical fitness. He was widely credited when none of the inmates succumbed to an influenza epidemic that killed thousands in England.

After the war, Pilates continued his fitness programs in Hamburg. In 1926, disenchanted with working with the German Army, Pilates emigrated to the United States. On the ship to America, Pilates met his future wife Clara. They founded a studio in New York City which is in operation to this day. (the above image is Joseph and Clara Pilates)

Pilates and his method, which he called “Contrology,” soon established a following in the dance community. Later on, athletes and other performing artists studied under his Method.

Pilates practiced what he preached and lived a long, healthy life. He died in 1967 at the age of 87. “

Also according to The Pilates Method, Joseph Pilates philosophy is as follows:

“Was the product of lifelong observation of the human body and its natural functioning. He called this system ‘Contrology,’ which he defined as ‘the science and art of coordinated body-mind-spirit development through natural movements under strict control of the will.

The method combines the best of Western and Eastern traditions, blending the mind and body and viewing them as a unity working in complete harmony with one another. The Eastern approach is a path to calmness, being centered and whole, with an emphasis on stretching and limberness. The western approach emphasizes motion, muscle tone and strength. Pilates emphasized these two approaches in his Method.”

Session 7

Tonight’s session was great; Kelly took me through our usual routine, which I feel more comfortable with, and she added some new exercises. It felt good to change up the session a bit and learn some new exercises. I did some work on the wall springs and these exercises are great for opening the chest, working the arms, shoulders, back, and even the quads.

In my last couple of sessions I have seen some progress in my workout. Many Pilates exercises begin with engaging the core, lifting the shoulders and bringing the chin to the chest. The intent is for the shoulders to remain lifted throughout the repetitions. In my early sessions I would end up feeling strain in my neck and have to lower my head. During my last couple of sessions I was able to keep my head lifted as I worked through the following exercises: The Hundred, Single Leg Stretch, Double Leg Stretch, and Straight Single Leg Stretch. It feels great to be able to accomplish this.

Session 6

When I took mat classes previously I used to think that they were a “lite” version of Pilates and if you really want to have a true Pilates experience you need to practice on the Pilates equipment. Now that I have been practicing both types of workouts for a couple of weeks now, I understand that they are intended to compliment each other. Many of the exercises I do on the reformer; Cadillac, etc are also done during the mat classes. Instead of using the springs for resistance you use your own body. Both types of workouts are equally intense.

Session 5

I really like the atmosphere at Body Mind Balance. There is one large room that has the majority of the equipment and plenty of floor space for mat work. The large windows on three sides of the room let in a lot of natural light and the beautiful hardwood floors and exposed brick add to the studio’s charm. When I am in the studio for my Tuesday and Thursday evening sessions it is typically pretty quiet, with only a few other people doing private sessions as well. It is nice to have that quiet time and focus on my practice and relax after a long day of work. On Saturdays mornings there is a different atmosphere when I attend mat class. There are usually 6-8 of us participating in a mat class, a group using the Gyrotonic equipment and sometimes a session or two of personal training going on as well. There seems to be more energy in the studio on Saturday mornings and it is a great way to start the day.

There is so much value in practicing Pilates at a studio. I was recently speaking with someone about my blog and she mentioned that she wants to start doing Pilates too. She is going to buy a DVD. I am sure there are a lot of great Pilates DVDs available, but nothing makes up for having someone in person coach you through your workout. When there is an instructor working with you, they can insure that you are doing the exercise properly. Sometimes just a small tweak to the placement of your foot or hip can make a difference. The instructor will also encourage you to take your exercise a bit further and personalize the workout to meet your needs.

Not only are the verbal cues from the instructor important, but it also helps to see other students practicing as well. Tonight I saw a more advanced student doing the crisscross while balanced on the chair. I thought to myself, “I want to be at that level, I want to be able to do that!” Watching other students gives helps me set new goals for myself

Session 4

Today was just one of those days…it was cold and gloomy out and I had a lot going on at work. Almost as soon as I arrived to the office I could feel the stress and tension building in my back and shoulders. By the time lunch rolled around I felt like my shoulders were up to my ears and I was tired. Despite the urge to just go home and veg on the sofa, I knew if I went to Pilates I would feel much better. I have noticed since I started practicing that my shoulders are not nearly as tight and I am not feeling nearly as stressed. Don’t get me wrong I still have a long way to go, but I definitely see an improvement. One of the important parts of the practice is keeping your shoulders down and back as you move through the positions. I think Kelly had to remind me to keep them down, much more tonight. Another key element is articulating your spine through the different positions. As you work through a roll-up/roll-down, for example, each vertebra should come in contact with the mat. I think it is these elements that have helped loosen the tension and also eliminated some of the back pain I had been feeling after sitting at my desk for eight hours a day.

The other thing I like about Pilates is it really forces me to focus my attention to the workout. In my earlier entry I talked about how I think focus is key to a successful session...I had to leave my to do list at work and just focus on my body and make sure I was pulling in my abdominal muscles, moving my shoulders, back and down, and articulating my spine. It really makes me more aware of my body and how it operates when I engage my muscles.

Session 3

For today’s session of Pilates, I participated in a group mat class. It was a small group, only six of us. This was a good size because I think it allowed our instructor, Holly, to watch all of us and give us individual attention as needed. One of the first things I noticed about the group this morning is that I was one of the youngest participants. I would venture a guess that a few of ladies were 50+. I mention this because it is a reminder that this program is all ages and abilities.

In Pilates mat work, I still did a lot of the same exercises that I have done on the reformer and cadillac the difference is I don’t have the springs to use as resistance, just my own body. For today’s session we also used the toning ring, which helped me engage my muscles.

I think when you do any kind of group fitness activity is easy to get caught up in the notion of, “am I keeping up with everyone else.” Holly reminded us to listen to our bodies, if we are not keeping our pelvis down or hips stable, etc. then our movements might be “too big.” Holly referenced one of Joseph Pilates philosophies when she said, “Sometimes the smallest movements or a few slow controlled movements can be more effective than many repetitions of sloppy ones.”

After three sessions I feel like I have already noticed some changes in my body. Sometimes my job requires me to sit at my computer for most of the day. I think that puts a real strain on my back and often times I find that my lower back is aching by the end of the day. On Friday and suddenly I realized that my back was not aching and it hadn’t been for a couple of days. My body also tends to feel very stiff and sore when I first get out of bed in the morning. This morning, to my delight, I noticed that I felt much better, and I know this with only improve with more sessions.

A few days ago a friend of mine told me about her experience with a personal trainer at a gym. The trainer berated and chastised my friend and told her she would probably fail if she did not hire him and use his program. All he cared about was making money and not helping my friend achieve her goals. This really struck me because right before my friend and I talked I had been thinking about how grateful I am for the encouragement I have received from Kelly during our sessions and from Julie as I write this blog. On this journey to be a healthier individual it is not just my physical being that I want to improve, but my mental being as well. Knowing I have people who want to see me succeed as much as I do is makes me feel like I can accomplish anything.

Session 2

After a busy couple of days at work I was excited for my next Pilates session. While I felt a little sore after the first session, it was the good kind of soreness where you know you worked hard, but you didn’t over do it.

Kelly guided me through the same routine with a few modifications based on my work during our first session. We will most likely be doing this for the next couple of weeks while I work on engaging my core and other muscles, breathing and moving through the different positions simultaneously.

Right from the beginning of our session, when I first sit down on the reformer, Kelly reminds me to move with control. I could easily let momentum take over, but when I actually focus on my movements, I become more aware of the work my muscles do. I already feel like this is one idea that I have taken into my everyday life. Instead of just plopping myself down in my desk chair or haphazardly toss a book or paper on my desk, I am now making a conscious effort to sit down and set the item down with control. It is my intent that this will become second nature.

Since my first session I have talked to a couple of people that have practiced Pilates. The consensus is they felt better overall, not just physically but also mentally. I know have had just two sessions, but I already feel like I am “walking taller” because I am working toward being a healthier person physically and mentally.

Session 1

What better way to start a sunny Sunday and a new week than to begin my Pilates Journey? Today, I officially began taking Pilates classes at the studio, BodyMind Balance on Dana Ave. I must admit I was feeling mixed emotions today, very excited and yet a little nervous. Once I arrived at the studio, I did not have much time to dwell on my nerves. After filling out some paperwork and discussion about schedule and goals, we started right into the workout.

My instructor’s name is Kelly. She is a mom, like me and can relate to joys and challenges of raising toddlers and the changes your body go through after having children. Kelly is an apprentice instructor and working toward becoming a certified instructor. Her apprenticeship requires her to have 600 hours for certification.

During my sessions at BMB, I will use several different pieces of equipment: high chair, Cadillac, the reformer and mat work. I have learned that Joseph Pilates developed all of these pieces of equipment to people connect and understand how to move from their powerhouse. The exercises I do will focus on balance, strength, and flexibility.

There was a lot to take in from this morning’s session. At times it felt awkward as I was learning how to use the different equipment and learn an exercise and move through the repetitions all while keeping my core muscles engaged and breathing. During our session we sometime repeat the exercises on the different equipment. I know as I continue to practice, this will become easier and I will gain more control of my movements, increase strength. I feel like today I worked muscles that probably had not been worked in quite some time. And while I left the studio with my arms and legs feeling a bit like Jello, I was also feeling energized and looking forward to my next session.

My biggest take-away from this first session is the importance of focusing my mind. I think how well I focus during a session will correlate to how successful I feel during a session.

***this picture was taken before I started my first session.