Present

Pilates is a “mind-body” workout. Which is s fancy term for paying attention.  Being present in your body, breath and movements.

It’s not meant to be a presentation. I’ve cringed many times hearing teachers cue clients to “make it pretty!” like they’re practicing for a recital! Instagram is full of gorgeous and thin and very toned women doing extremely advanced fancy exercises that many people will be simultaneously in admiration of and intimidated by. It breaks my heart because for me Pilates is truly accessible to anyone who wants to use their body better and be more mindful in movement. It’s not important to be able to hang upside down in the splits!  It is important to be able to do life tasks free from restriction and pain.  If you build up to that advanced stuff, great!  But if you can work all day without back pain and do your hobbies with ease and joy that goes a lot further in quality of life.

Pilates often makes some huge promises. I try to avoid feeding that fire. I know what it’s done for me and my countless clients but I can’t promise anyone specific results. I can promise that if you commit to the practice it will yield results, but those vary because people vary. I’ve only had a handful of people over my 24 years who didn’t find it helpful and discontinued, but in each case they were not open, not present in the work.

Pilates is not magic. It’s work. Wonderful work but work just the same. You might get some benefit just showing up, with consistency, mindlessly going through the motions, phoning it in, if you will. But those benefits are far greater if you are present. If you really engage your attention, which is just as important as engaging your muscles!

As life gets more fast paced and attention spans are divided and dwindling, being present in your body for an hour is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. The benefits of that alone will filter into all the other hours of your week. It’s almost like magic! But it’s really just very practical work. A healthy balance of movement and meditation that can transform your life. Having a “flat stomach” is a pretty inconsequential goal when you realize that you can improve the quality of your life.

You don’t have to look perfect.  You don’t have to move perfectly. You don’t have to achieve perfect mental focus. But if you show up consistently and do the work while being as present as you can the results will come. I don’t promise a flat stomach but I will say that it is very likely that you will reap many greater benefits that reach far beyond vanity.

And being more present is a gift that keeps on giving!