Welcome to Your Personal Pilates Inspiration Page. As I write my first blog post, I have to reflect on one year ago today—the day I reluctantly let my husband drag me to the gym. I complained that I was tired, lacked energy, and generally felt “blah”. Menopause was knocking at my door, and the knock was getting louder by the day. My husband suggested the gym might make me feel better. I suggested that a trip to an island with margaritas might be a better solution.
I wanted to go to a gym about as much as I wanted to visit the dentist. The loud music, muscle-bound 20-year-olds, and perky gym attendants made me feel quite good about my regular decision to hide under the covers for an extra hour each morning. Although I had been active all my life, the gym was a place I avoided as much as a root canal.
To make matters worse, day one consisted of a full body composition scan (for which I concluded my new “personal trainer” had surely falsely weighted), a questionnaire about my eating habits (what – is there something wrong with croissants and mimosas on a Wednesday?), and my goals for the year (survival and a couple of yoga classes).
Despite my kicking and screaming, I somehow agreed to personal training twice a week and signed up for a few yoga and pilates classes. Little did I know that a 27-year-old handsome trainer named Luis would really change my life. Little by little I actually started liking the gym and lifting weights. I started taking more Pilates classes at several studios. A few weeks later, I was trying new things without my trainer, and on my 53rd birthday, I did my first DEADLIFT with the big boys and girls! I realized that I had never felt better, and my body was starting to change!
It was then that my journey to becoming a Pilates instructor began. I signed on with Balanced Body and started my certification process. Later today, I will sign my first instructor contract at the very gym I thought I would never enjoy. Pilates has become a part of my daily life, and I can’t imagine life without it.
Life gets in the way. We get tired, pulled in different places, and put others first. Before we know it, years have passed, and we don’t recognize ourselves. It may have been a long time since you’ve done any exercise other than trying to fit into your skinny jeans. But let my story be a source of inspiration – it’s never too late to start.