As part of the Rivercity Pilates Friend-ilates challenge — Carey is giving double referral bonuses!    That’s $30 (or enough for a Rivercity Pilates T-shirt) on your account for referring friends who purchase a package at Rivercity Pilates.     I love to win Tee-Shirts, so I set up a private session for a friend of mine and his daughter and then pretty much talked them into going without taking no for an answer.    (Yes, blackmail might have been involved!)

I like to go with my friends to their first appointment for a whole lot of reasons.

1. They’re nervous.     I go to Pilates 3-4 times a week, so Pilates is familiar to me.    I have an understanding of the equipment, I know that the exercises can be done at my level (and with a lot of props or springs to help me achieve things my body can’t do).   My friends didn’t know that.   My friends daughter was 34, she does kettlebell training and jogs, she has some pretty impressive muscles in her arms that intimidated me a bit when she was wearing her workout clothes, and being healthy is a priority for her — and she admitted she was nervous because she didn’t know anything about Pilates, and she didn’t know what to expect!   My 60 year old friend (let’s call him the country bumpkin) is a farmer that is very active — but hasn’t taken part in organized fitness activities since he played high school football!   They were nervous about everything from what to wear, what they would do, and if they would be able to do it!    I went with them (admittedly — so I could watch and take pictures for this blog) but also to help make them feel at ease!
2. I love hearing the Joe Pilates stories that Carey tells new students.   Yes, I’ve heard the stories before, and I’ve seen the recent movie made about Joe Pilates and the Pilates method.    However, when I’m paying attention (not letting my mind wander), listening so that if my friends ask me a question later I can answer it, I almost always hear something new.
3. Actually participating in the session helps me evaluate how my Pilates practice is going!   This is kind of hard to explain — so bear with me.    In an orientation session Carey teaches the fundamentals first.    Breathing, Shoulder Stability and Hip Stability were the first things my friends were learning.   I’m sure you all have done the exercise where Carey puts a small round ball on your belly so you can visualize your core pulling the ball down towards your spine.    Yesterday was the first time I’ve done that exercise when my ball didn’t roll off my belly!  YEA!    I must be getting better!
4. You can give your friends the gift of experiencing mindful movement! Yesterday was a tough day for my friend (the country bumpkin) because it was his first wedding anniversary since his wife passed away.  When we went to lunch and hung out afterwards I could tell that he was having a day of memories, but during Pilates, whenever I looked at his face — he was deep in concentration trying to do the Pilates exercises that Carey was describing — I truly believe he was “in the moment”
5. Another thing that happens in an orientation session is that all the exercises are done slowly, giving the new student (or me in this instance) plenty of time to pay attention to breathing, form and technique.    Not only was I thinking about  keeping my hips still, but when we had our feet in the leg springs, I was super conscious of breathing and initiating movement from my center!   Doing the beats and claps at probably half the speed I normally do them was very intense and it gave me time to notice my alignment and form.    I was more than willing to do 2 sets of beats and claps instead of 3 — so I can’t imagine what my friends were thinking on that third set!https://www.instagram.com/p/BPLBqLXjKnk/
6. When you watch newbies, and yes, there were times I took time to watch them instead of doing the exercises, and I got a sense of accomplishment from my Pilates practice.   I remember when I couldn’t make it back up when I was rolling like a ball, or when it was tough getting my back into a C Curve.    I do it now without really thinking about it — but when I was watching my friends roll, I realized how much I had learned to like the exercise! When Carey used to tell me rolling like a ball was her favorite — I used to think she was crazy!    Now I do it, and it truly does massage my spine!
7. When watching my friends, I noticed how much more aware I am of my spine position.      Shoulders directly above my hips and a straight spine in between!     When Carey said sit tall, my friends daughter instantly went into a little arch (which is admirable because it was pretty), but way different than I was doing.    Pilates has given me awareness of posture that has come very gradually over the past 2 years!  I still have to work at sitting tall and keeping my core and gluts engaged — but I feel much more successful at it than I used to!
8. If your friends get too focused or start to worry that Pilates is too hard — you can help your teacher lighten the moment.     Sometimes all a friend needs to know — is that you have felt that way too!
9. You are able to see the “picky” Pilates details that your teacher reminds you of in other people!     Just more confidence that you’re progressing in your Pilates practice!
10. Taking your friends to Pilates, gives you a great opportunity to spend some time with your friend and maybe go out to lunch or coffee after!