March Inspiration of the Month: Bill McClelland

When did you start Pilates and what inspired you to start?

Racing around doing everyday activities, I started to gradually loose flexibility, which slowly started to impact mobility. A buzzing sensation in my leg down to my right foot ultimately suggested something needed to be done. Massage provided relief, but it was temporary. My wife had started Pilates with Carey and convinced me to give it a try a few years ago. After several private sessions and Carey’s keen eye for spotting trouble, the buzzing sensation went away and I was doing well enough to stop: too busy, too much travel. Of course the original flexibility-related problems as well as the buzzing sensation returned. It took a year or so to finally understand what Carey was really saying – Pilates provides a lifetime of change if it becomes a life style. So I re-started sessions and classes at Rivercity with a longer term outlook and commitment.

How often do you practice Pilates and what type of sessions or classes have you been doing?

Pilates has become a critical part of staying healthy for me; I try to do something every other day. Sessions with Carey and some classes happen when I am in town, but more often than not I am looking for space in hotel rooms to do something. If I am doing field work, any flat space outdoors will do. It is amazing how easy it is to find a spot for doing “100s” and teasers if you’re honest about looking. Sessions with Carey are still helping remove asymmetry and Shelley’s Every Body mat classes provide an excellent opportunity to focus and enjoy movement.

What benefits or improvements have you noticed in your body and life from doing Pilates?

Pilates for me has been about mobility from the start. That has definitely improved, but the increased strength resulting from Pilates has taken me by surprise. The combination of strength and flexibility has made moving through everyday life enjoyable.

Do you have a favorite exercise or piece of equipment (or both)?

It may sound underwhelming, but my favorite time of exercise is when I first get into position on the Tower or Reformer for a session with Carey or lie down on the mat in Shelley’s mat class: check in with breathing, position, etc. – my mind drifts off of work and I think to myself “this is going to be fun…”

What would you say to someone who is thinking about doing Pilates?

Pilates is a foundational form of exercise that facilitates and enhances any additional activity. If you are interested in a true change in lifestyle with increased mobility and function, do Pilates. And since many of the exercises are transportable, you can do something just about anywhere! Rivercity provides the inspiration, encouragement and knowledge to get started. They also provide a warm friendly welcome when you return, no matter how far and long you have wandered.