Pilates

Growing up gracefully is about health and wellness, honoring your body so that you can live a healthy life for a very long time.    PLEASE ask your doctor before starting any new exercise programs.



"I must be right. Never an aspirin. Never injured a day in my life. The whole country, the whole world, should be doing my exercises. They'd be happier."

- Joseph Hubertus Pilates, in 1965, age 86



I've always been active, some years more active than others.  I've dabbled in Pilates on and off, I have the Windsor Pilates DVDs, and took occasional mat Pilates classes.

Pilates is totally different than any other workout I've ever done. It gets lumped in with yoga quite a bit, but I don't know why, they're very different from each other.  Here's an excerpt from the PilatesMethodAlliance website:

"Practiced faithfully, Pilates yields numerous benefits. Increased lung capacity and circulation through deep, healthy breathing is a primary focus. Strength and flexibility, particularly of the abdomen and back muscles, coordination-both muscular and mental, are key components in an effective Pilates program. Posture, balance, and core strength are all heartily increased. Bone density and joint health improve, and many experience positive body awareness for the first time. Pilates teaches balance and control of the body, and that capacity spills over into other areas of one's life."


In my late forties, this is exactly what I'm looking for.  I want to be strong, fit, and flexible.  Posture has always been a concern of mine, so that's a bonus.  At the time I signed up for the training, I was looking at Pilates as a way to cross train, something different from a circuit class or body pump class.  Besides, I loved the Pilates trainers bodies!  "The pixies behind the bamboo curtain".  They're tiny, with a lean and toned physique.  I tend to build muscle easily,  so stretching and lengthening those same muscles sounded like a good idea.  I had no idea what I was getting into.

When I started Pilates reformer training, I had been working out regularly for about a year and thought I was in pretty good shape. I had been taking occasional mat Pilates classes, but had never been on a Pilates reformer in my life. Wow did I underestimate the power of Pilates!  There is nothing like it.  It is HARD!  Here's the thing though.  It's hard for everyone, but at your own level.  Since it's so different from traditional exercise classes, your fitness level is very much unrelated to your ability to master Pilates exercises.  Sure, if you're fit, you'll pick it up more easily, and you may get get through beginner training more quickly.  I promise though, EVERYONE'S abdominal muscles will be crying the next day!  Pilates exercises find muscles in your midsection that you didn't even know existed.

OK so maybe that doesn't sound like a glowing recommendation for Pilates!  As they say, getting older ain't for sissies!  The thing that makes Pilates stand out for us Baby Boomers/Gen Xer's is that it will be as hard as you make it.  Most of the exercises are done laying down.  The exercises are non-weight bearing.  You can start out slow, and deepen the exercises as you build your strength.  The benefits of a regular Pilates regimen are seen quickly, and the benefit of a flexible spine as you are "Growing Up Gracefully" is immeasurable.

I highly recommend you look into Pilates facilities in your area.   I have the DVDs, and as I do them now, I see how incorrectly I was doing the exercises before I had the training.  I'm very lucky this didn't cause any problems.  Find a fun Pilates trainer, and if you're in my corner of the world, give Kim Rogers at Evolution Health and Fitness a call!  If you're hesitant to join a gym, you may not even have to do that, many times you can just enroll in the Pilates program.

Think you can't do Pilates because of a bad back?  Check this out:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/103286-pilates-back-pain/

Think you're too old to start Pilates?  Check this out:
http://pilates.about.com/od/pilatesforeverybody/f/Seniors.htm

Think Pilates won't help your posture?  Watch this!





I'm hooked on Pilates.  My midsection is stronger today, at age 49, than ever before. My posture is improving, and so is my balance.  Even my waist is starting to make a reappearance!  Four kids later!  Incredible.

Live as if time is infinite!