“Summer” body

I’ve been inundated with posts about “summer body” exercises lately.  But we don’t have a “summer” body.  We have a body that we use all year.  One body that is our lifelong vehicle.  And most fitness is focused on what it looks like. But is that really what’s important?  Is a beautiful car that doesn’t run have more value then one that actually runs?

We only have one body. I’ve had clients who had abused their bodies in the name of “fitness” and they all wished they could get that list cartilage in their knees back. They were very grateful for Pilates giving them good exercise that supported their joints and kept them able to move. Our bodies are made to move. What it looks like is really secondary at best.

I wish more people could value their bodies abilities more than its looks.  I’ve worked with many people who looked “in shape” but couldn’t sit or walk without pain. They didn’t have the ability to move through life well. Many were fixated on workouts that were hurting them. But what good is a “summer body” if you are unable to use it, to enjoy life in?

Any exercise program can be beneficial when it focuses on functional movement more than creating a “look”. Pilates isn’t magic. But it is a well balanced system that takes the body through all of the ranges of motion that our body can do. It’s not hard on the joints.  It’s adaptable to every bodies level of ability. You don’t need to be “fit” to begin.

My favorite people to work with aren’t the athletes, they are the couch potatoes!  The ones who haven’t been active, never liked exercise. I get so much satisfaction from helping regular people discover movement. Feel strong and flexible and capable. Learn that exercise can make you feel better, in your whole life.

So remember, if you’re killing your self for that “summer body” you might want to rethink.  You’ll need that body in the winter. In the coming years, decades. That body will be your only vehicle for the rest of your life. Keeping it in good working order will pay off far more than binging on barre classes because swimsuits are on sale.