Prior to being a fitness professional, I routinely attended a mat Pilates class in my community for ten years. I enjoyed the class very much, but the mind-body connection never occurred to me.
I enjoyed the class mostly because of its social aspect. I saw the friendships as a great way to get out of the house as a stay-at-home mom. Fast forward ten years, I lacked the energy to continue to attend the mat class due to an undiagnosed endocrine issue that drastically zapped my enthusiasm to keep up my attendance. Since I am not one to stand back and let issues such as this take over my life, I began to do some research. I began to realize that along with proper nutrition, mind-body movement has many benefits, including detoxifying the organs. I slowly began to return to the vibrant person I once was. Looking for a way to help other women with similar issues, I noticed an area of study that could possibly be a solution for many of us. I was like a sponge, quickly absorbing all the information I could possibly contain. I took the opportunity to become a Certified Personal Trainer so I could pass my Mind Body Specialist exams. Little did I know what would occur over the next two years of my new career!
I followed protocol, and began doing postural, flexibility, and mobility/stability assessments on my clients. Analyzing those findings along with my clients’ goals in mind, I noticed many Pilates exercises would serve my clients well. In so doing, I created a Dynamic Core class that was adaptable to any fitness level. Being the curious person that I am, I began to delve more into the “WHY” behind how the Pilates method was helping my clients so well. I noticed one of my clients, with two curves in her spine, was beginning to achieve more stability and balance. I began to notice another client achieve increased endurance with less pain through Pilates, while another client experienced impressive strength gains over a period of a few months. In studying more on the subject of orthopedic exercise, I began to see most of the recommended exercises were based on the Pilates method. The following links have been helpful to prove my findings.
Research Gate – The Benefits of Pilates Exercise in Orthaepedic Rehabilitation
As I continued to work with these clients in a private setting, I realized there was one important component missing from their routine—the one I so enjoyed as a Pilates student ten years ago!
So I began to create workshops that would bring my clients together. I opened up my home kitchen to hold a small gathering of these women. This is a hands-on opportunity to create perfectly portioned meals in a workshop I call “ABS ARE MADE IN THE KITCHEN”. It is the perfect opportunity to not only get my clients together in a much needed social setting, but also incorporates the nutritional aspect that worked so well for me as I overcame my undiagnosed medical condition.
The rapport and great friendships I have gained in these special women have been invaluable to me. I look forward to the vibrant future Pilates has afforded my clients. I have absolutely no regrets in the path that was spread out before me those years ago, because in hindsight that journey brought me to this place where I can fondly recall how I became an “accidental Pilates enthusiast”!
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