Success: Initial reflections

If you had told me 6 months ago I would be writing a blog about Pilates I’d say you had the wrong guy. If you had also told me I would be getting up a 5:15am twice a week to go to Pilates classes, I would have said that guy was crazy. How times change, here I am fulfilling both. Now I’ve been working out for two months at the studio, I thought I’d share my experience to date.

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised my male friends have absolutely no clue what Pilates is about. They are worried about me though, one of them asked me what’s next, Jazzercize? All I can say to them is come on down and try it, I’d love to see what they can do! I did expect my female friends to be a bit more up on the topic and one of my coworkers made me laugh when she said “doesn’t that have a piece of equipment called the punisher? Not quite but it certainly feels like it at times.

I started Pilates to improve my flexibility and a good indication of my improvement is the fact that Leslie doesn’t have to work so hard getting my limbs to move in our sessions. I liken my starting point as similar to the Tin Man in the Wizard of OZ, and since then I can already feel a huge improvement, I had forgotten what it is like to have some level of flexibility. I did get a glimpse of the long road ahead when I happened to look in on an advanced mat class on a Saturday morning and saw them lying chest down with one leg bent under them to their shoulders. This still brings tears to my eyes and I’m not convinced my leg will ever do that.

I have benefited from two other things I didn’t expect; increased strength and improved biomechanics. On the strength front, like a typical male I couldn’t see the exercises making me stronger. Boy was I wrong, I found out early in one of Leslie’s sessions it didn’t take much to get me into an exercise that set my arms on fire. Lisa Rulis is now keeping me honest and I can hear her saying during an exercise “what are you feeling?” when I’m working so hard it’s difficult to breathe let alone respond! I had no clue how much of a work out you can get from only a mat.

The biomechanics really surprised me. I assumed my body simply wasn’t supposed to do some things and I’ve since learned it’s just the way I am using it. I wish I had started Pilates 20 years ago and I bet I wouldn’t have had to have four instances of knee surgery. I am simply amazed this isn’t pushed more in professional sports and I now I understand the brilliance of the Blazers including Pilates in Greg Oden’s recovery schedule. I hope the rest of the team are using it.

I’m going to wrap up with a few things I’ve learned in the studio:
1. Long shorts – In my first reformer session, Lisa mentioned men don’t like having to open their legs. I can share the reason, without wearing long shorts there is a definite risk of a wardrobe malfunction. Not pretty for anyone.
2. It’s not the equipment – whenever I find myself on the reformer and the ropes won’t go taught, I have to remind myself it’s probably not an equipment malfunction. That said, it is a great excuse if you are well and truly stuck during a specific exercise.
3. Laugh at myself – I have to do this every time I go and it is good to have a regular humbling experience. Despite the 5:45am group being labeled intro/beginner, I now understand this group isn’t really made up of newbies like me (isn’t that right Lois). Still, it is good to have some very experienced people to copy, seeing is so much easier than listening.
4. Do something out of the ordinary – For me, starting Pilates has been like living in another country. Having to understand something completely different is a great way to get me thinking outside of the box.