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?)