After celebrating a client success story the other day (we never seem to get tired of hearing how Pilates is making a difference in someone’s life!), Shannon and I found ourselves talking about something completely different.
Somewhere along the way, our conversation shifted to the fact that we’ve both been practicing Pilates for more than 25 years.
Twenty-five years.
We laughed that we’re still practicing the same method Joseph Pilates created all those years ago. The exercises are familiar, yet somehow they never feel old. We still find ourselves learning something new. We still discover an exercise that feels different than it did six months ago. We still leave a session feeling stronger, taller, and more connected to our bodies.
Then Shannon remembered her very first Pilates class. She laughed about trying to listen to the instructor while remembering to breathe, move her arms and legs, think about her posture, keep her ribs in the right place…and probably five other things all at once. “I loved it,” she said. She realized right away that Pilates challenged her mind just as much as her body.
That made me smile because I remember feeling something very similar.
As Pilates teachers, we spend a lot of time talking about strength, balance, posture, flexibility, and mobility. Those things are incredibly important. But one of the things that has kept both of us practicing for more than two decades is that Pilates asks us to be present. For an hour, we’re paying attention to how we move, how we breathe, and how our bodies feel. It’s a different kind of exercise than simply counting repetitions or watching the clock until the workout is over.
We also laughed about something else. When we started practicing Pilates over 25 years ago, we certainly weren’t thinking about aging well. We were just enjoying the challenge and the way it made us feel. Now, all these years later, we’re grateful that we kept showing up.
The research seems to be catching up with what so many Pilates teachers and longtime practitioners have experienced in their own bodies. We hear more than ever about the importance of strength training, balance, mobility, posture, coordination, and maintaining a healthy mind-body connection as we age.
Those have always been part of Pilates.
Maybe that’s one of the reasons the method has stood the test of time.
But here’s what I think is even more important. After 25 years, I haven’t “finished” Pilates. My body has changed over the years, so my practice has changed too. Some days I need to work on strength. Other days I notice I need more mobility or better balance. Sometimes I’m reminded that slowing down and moving with more intention is exactly what my body needs.
Pilates continues to meet me where I am.
I think that’s one of the beautiful things about having a practice instead of simply having a workout. A practice grows with you. It changes as your life changes. It keeps giving you opportunities to learn something new about your body.
That’s also why we’re excited to be adding another opportunity to practice at Rivercity Pilates.
Beginning this summer, Shiho will be teaching a new Wednesday 10:00 a.m. Small Group Pilates Reformer session.
If you’ve been thinking about trying Pilates, this is a wonderful place to begin. And if you’re already practicing once a week, adding a second session is one of the best ways to continue building strength, improve your confidence on the equipment, and simply enjoy moving more often.
Twenty-five years later, Shannon and I are both still making time for Pilates in our week. Not because we have to. Because after all these years, we still love how it makes us feel.
Maybe this is your sign to begin your own Pilates practice…or simply give yourself one more opportunity each week to enjoy it. Choose the Wednesday 10 AM session below, or email use email us to register.
💜 A Different Kind of Fitness Experience
🗓️ Free Session Schedule
You don’t need to be flexible.
I remember my mentor telling me this during teacher training, and I’ve seen it proven again and again—both in my own body and in my clients’. She told me, “If you help people stay consistent with their practice, they’ll not only build strength and mobility—they’ll rebalance their body, improve alignment, reduce injuries, and simply feel better.”
Pssst… I’m sharing the not-so-secret secret:
From June 1 through August 31, you can take unlimited in-studio Pilates Mat sessions and unlimited Pilates Mat virtual classes for only $299.
