Take a Pilates Class: You just might surprise yourself!

Take a Pilates Class: You just might surprise yourself!

Sure, I can workout by myself.

I’m quite good at kicking my own ass.

Soundly.

But it’s still just me.

I am beholden to myself only.

Oh yeah, Mat classes and private lessons…

Private lessons and Pilates classes taught by OTHER TEACHERS are fantastic in so many ways:

  1. Focus and planning are required: you have to make an appointment or consult a schedule.
  2. You are held accountable: there are consequences ($$$) if you bail at the last minute.
  3. You will get what you need: your teacher will include exercises you’d avoid if you were alone.
  4. You’ll be more on display: Keep it together. Suck it up. Just do it. Never let ’em see you sweat.
  5. You’ll surprise yourself and do something you thought you couldn’t do.

Take it from me, it’s a great lesson to learn (again)

Wait, I could do MORE?!

What a positive boost of energy. Not to mention, the heady afterglow of “Hey, I did that!”

And even better if it’s some dreaded, necessary exercise. Speaking of…

Hello, Neck Pull

Perhaps I’ve mentioned it before (like 1000 times)

I was terrified to receive my first Pilates diploma due to my inability to do the Neck Pull on the mat at all, really.

I assumed if I were ever to run into criminals in a dark alley they would demand the Neck Pull in exchange for my life, and my odds of surviving said encounter were slim.

I really used to dislike the Neck Pull on the Mat. Oh, I’m being kind…

I f**king hated it.

I was like an insect that had gotten stuck upside down and couldn’t roll itself over again.

The good news is that now I kind of like it.

Thanks, Joe Pilates!

Moreover, I like the Neck Pull even when I take a Mat class and must be parted from my best friend the strap at the end of the studio mat. I take it as a challenge and tackle the Neck Pull with pride as I am much better at it now.

Evidently even more so than I realize.

The weight of your teacher’s gaze

Jennifer Kries is just about the loveliest Pilates teacher you’ll find. She has a wonderful warm and encouraging demeanor as she leads the class. Somehow she becomes more cheerful and uplifting as the exercises get harder. Just when you need it.

How nice.

Except when viewed through the lens of the Neck Pull.

True, she was very warm and encouraging. Yet firm. Relentless, even. Unwavering in her directive:

Keep your heels on the Mat.

Neck Pull #1 goes by. Legs are basically still on the mat, but the heels do lift a bit. But it seems fine, not a disaster.

Your heels. Don’t let them leave the Mat.

Neck Pull #2: pretty similar to the previous one. She’s right, the heels are definitely lifting.

Is she standing closer now?

I begin Neck Pull #3. Our eyes meet, she is now right in front of me. Clearly, this is not her first rodeo.

Keep. The heels. Down.

Is it hot in here?

The room fades away and my focus hones into a singular beam of willpower and righteous indignation. Surely I have power over my heels, yes? Keeping them on the Mat is my only concern now.

That and proving to Jennifer that I do indeed speak English.

Concentration pops out more sweat all over me.

When did it get so hot in here?

But guess what. My heels stayed on the Mat.

It was actually possible, look at that! It took way more focus than I thought I could muster to accomplish it, but it HAPPENED.

I can do more!

Ladies and Gentlemen, yet another gem of the Pilates Method:

Wait, there’s MORE.

Have you surprised yourself in a class or lesson recently? I hope it made you feel like a Pilates Rock Star!

Share your success in a comment below.

 

2 Responses

  1. Still waiting for a miracle (of course these don’t exist in pilates, it will just have to be me, working harder) to happen for my leg pull front. Yesterday I found out that I had the starting position ‘wrong’ (feet FLAT on the mat – my calves are still sweatin’ that out today). And then I have to lift one foot off the mat?! STRAIGHT UP IN THE AIR?! If you’ve got any tips, prepping exercises or whatever: I would love you even more! Fantastic blog you have!!

    1. Anouk,

      Thanks so much for reading and sharing your comments and thoughts about the Leg Pull. You are reading my mind…it is currently one of the exercises I wrestle with each and every time I do the Mat workout. It is on my list and will hit the blog in the not too-distant-future. This exercise clearly needs a new name as well, at the very least to encourage me to use my stomach instead of well, whatever else I am using instead…hubris? My ankles?

      Keep an eye out for the Leg Pull post, and please know I will be thinking of you as I refine it, thanks for bringing up this challenging (maddening) exercise.

      Much love to you for your kind words about the blog – truly appreciated!

      🙂

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