Reflections from Pilates on Tour
WHY PILATES?
I was fortunate to be able to travel to Phoenix last weekend for Pilates on Tour. This is a major conference put on by Balanced Body Education that brings together Pilates teachers from all parts of the country with varied backgrounds and training. As a company, Balanced Body is one of the most welcoming and inclusive I have ever encountered. They work hard to bring movement teachers together in an environment that respects all types of training and inspires community and collaborations. I love the educational sessions and seeing old friends but what I love the most is the energy around this community of movers. Being around hundreds of people who love to move and are passionate about empowering others to move is pretty inspirational to say the least. My conversations and experiences challenged me to get back to the WHY of Pilates and the WHY behind CONNECT.
So WHY Pilates? More people are practicing Pilates now then ever before and the interest continues to grow. At it’s core (pun intended) Pilates is fun! It is an efficient way to challenge our increasingly sedentary lifestyles, uses interesting equipment, and invites us to be present and make new mind-body connections. Pilates serves as a moving meditation of sorts and allows us to explore and push our bodies to do things we may not have thought possible. However, Pilates (originally called Contrology by its inventor Joseph Pilates) is more than just exercise. It’s a philosophy and a lifestyle as well. Pilates is a form of mindful movement that can spark change by helping us feel and see what is possible instead of what isn’t. It’s a reminder of the resilience of the strength we all have inside of us and a representation of how feeling good in your body helps you feel better in your mind and spirit as well. In fact, when Joseph Pilates was alive, he proclaimed that if everyone practiced contrology daily we would have no need for hospitals, prisons, or mental health institutions! While your initial reaction may toss that claim aside, I’d encourage you to pause and contemplate it for a moment. How do you feel (not just physically) after a few hours sitting at the computer? Now compare that to how you feel after a walk outside or after your favorite Pilates class? How empowering does it feel to push your body and be in control of it vs. the feelings we all have when we hurt and it feels as though our body is fighting us?
Statistics keep getting worse when it comes to the average time we all spend sitting and on screens. The prevalence of “lifestyle diseases” such as heart disease, metabolic syndromes, and obesity continue to rise. Levels of stress, anxiety, and depression all continue to climb in our modern society.
Maybe Joe’s claims weren’t so outrageous. Imagine those times when your body feels bad. Maybe you aren’t sleeping well as a result or maybe you have had to skip your daily walks with your dog. Maybe you stopped exercising a while ago due to an injury or pain and are worried about starting up again because you don’t want to go through that hurt all over again. I hear you - it’s scary. It can feel easier to avoid and resign ourselves to accept a new normal. We do this with the phrases like “I’m just getting older” or “I just can’t do those things anymore.” The truth is much more hopeful. Continually challenging our bodies and minds to play, explore new things, and push our boundaries can be life-changing. One of the things that is most attractive to me about Pilates is its accessibility. In 18 years of teaching I have not met a single person who I’d say Pilates wasn’t a good fit for. The ability of a skilled teacher and incredible equipment to meet a person wherever they are at in their fitness is unmatched in any other form of exercise I’ve encountered. It is also an amazing way to challenge even the most athletic among us. Professional athletes swear by the benefits of incorporating this practice into their training. Devotees range from NFL stars to elite track and field athletes and basketball players to Olympic swimmers. Pilates has something to offer everyone who is willing to give it a try.
Wherever you are on your movement journey we are here for you. If you are dealing with pain, don’t wait and wish it away. Schedule an appointment with your physical therapist. Pilates curious? Come in for a Discovery session and see what you think? Dedicated already? Talk with your teachers about your goals and allow them to help tailor your sessions in a way that helps you succeed.