My Little Pilates Story- Big to Me!

My story is little unless you are me, then it is big!
I’m a pediatric physical therapist, in practice since 1971.  Was never athletic at all, I always preferred to hang out with a book rather than play sports.  But I live an active life and enjoy gardening, hiking, backpacking, x-c skiing, and sea kayaking.  I injured my back gardening in 1979 (SI strain) and had intermittent low back pain ever since.  I tried “crunches” and other basic abdominal strengthening exercises, but could never get strong enough.  At work, my little patients transitioning from crawling to walking always made my back ache, and it was really bad if I had two of them in a day’s work.

I worked out the the gym, doing step aerobics and then spinning.  One day, a fellow spinner told me about Traci’s Pilates class at the downtown Bally’s Total Fitness.  I tried it and I was hooked.  The mind-body training began to make a difference as I learned to get my abdominals to wake up and do their job.  I’ve continued with weekly classes (moving to Pacific NW Pilates with Traci).  I took Melanie’s Pilates for Rehab class at Pacific NW Pilates and that solidified my understanding of the basic principles.  I did not get the certification, but do incorporate the principles and exercises in my work whenever possible.  I also have several “routines” I do at home (with the help of Moira, PJ and others on DVD!), and it is such a fabulous way to start my day.  The good news is that I rarely have low back pain anymore, even after gardening, crawling around after little kids, and doing housework.

I continue to learn about my body and how to keep it happy.  After a spell of very uncomfortable neck pain, followed by PT, home traction, massage, and still residual pain, I had 2 sessions with Melanie.  She “nailed” the source of the aggravation and gave me a great home program.  It is not easy for a 60 year old body to change her posture, but the awareness  of what needs to change, and the tools to work on it are beyond value!  The arthritis won’t go away, but the pain does, and that is life changing.

A happy PS is that my husband and I planned a 5 day kayak trip for our vacation in September.  I was concerned that all that shoulder work would aggravate my neck. The good news is that by stabilizing my shoulders as I held the paddle, my good posture was easy, and I never felt better than when my paddle was in my hands! We had a fabulous week in the Gulf Islands, and I did “my Pilates” on the water, every day.

Thank you to Melanie, Traci and all the folks who keep your studio such an awesome place to be healthy!

Jocelyn Goodall (Physical Therapist)