Inspiration of the Month – Kelly Mulherin

Inspiration of the Month – April 2013

Kelly Mulherin

When did you start Pilates and what inspired you to start?
I started Pilates about 4 months ago because I needed some way to get exercise after a foot injury/surgery. I knew Pilates would be low impact on my foot, as I can’t really do much cardio without foot pain. A few years ago I lost about 50 pounds, and the weight was starting to creep back on…I wasn’t going to let that continue. (I’ve since lost all that again, plus a couple extra!) Now, I want to continue to help me keep going on a new goal.

Why did you decide to do the Empower Your Body Challenge?
I thought the challenge would be a great way to force me into coming to Pilates. After the holidays, it can be hard to get back into the right habits and I knew that the challenge would keep me going and motivated.

What are some of your favorite things about the Empower Your Body Challenge?
My favorite thing is that I completed all the requirements – getting in all my classes and cardio in a hectic schedule! I really liked the daily emails we received. There was a great mix of daily reminders and tips, plus just motivation to remember I was in the challenge everyday.

What benefits have you seen by committing to a regular Pilates and/or yoga practice?
I have slimmed down and gotten stronger! Not being able to use my foot like I want to has really taken a toll on me mentally, but Pilates helped turn that around for me. The exercises are getting easier, and although some of the advanced ones are still hard, I want to keep going. My bad foot has also gotten a little stronger, so hopefully by summer, I can try to get more active again.

Do you have a favorite exercise or piece of equipment (or both)?
At first, I liked the tower/reformer the best, but recently, I’ve started to really enjoy the mat classes. My favorite exercises on the mat are the leg work series.

What would you say to someone thinking about starting Pilates?
Don’t think about it, just sign up! It’s low impact, you can go at your own pace, and everyone at Rivercity Pilates is so supportive! It’s a great feeling to leave a class doing an exercise better than the class before.