Cindy’s Story: Strength Through Every Season

Her story is one of resilience, openness, and discovering that movement isn’t about perfection — it’s about durability, adaptability, and continuing to show up.If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s “too late” to start… this is for you.

You have been practicing Pilates and movement with us since 2018 — and even before that! How has your practice changed since you started?

I was off and on with a variety of exercise modalities until I tripped over the dog and broke my hip. My practice was equipment only — the Reformer, the Tower, the Cadillac. I was happy with that, as I gained movement, decreased pain, and felt strong. Even though I was encouraged to try mat and other forms of Pilates, I was afraid of not having the mechanical support.

Then COVID hit and everything changed. The studio wasn’t accessible for me, so it was either give up my practice (and all the gains I had made) or try the dreaded (my fear) mat classes remotely. I couldn’t imagine going back to my pre-Pilates state of health (and weight), so off to remote classes I went!

Remote classes saved me an hour in travel time. The variety of mat classes and my instructors made it fun, and they encouraged me to notice the small wins I was having with certain exercises. I ventured from Mat to Yoga, to Balance, to Barre, and then an advanced Mat class.

I recently tried strength training with a mace (not as scary as it looks), yoga for balance (one session even had the mace!), and a Circuit Strength Training class with my husband. Along the way, I’ve gotten my husband to join me at times in mat and yoga — though he’s a fair-weather Pilates person. Anything during the winter to help his golf game in the summer… but when the temp gets above 50, he’s gone!

What does your movement practice look like currently?

Today it’s modified due to an injury — but that’s what I love about Pilates. I’ve been working with gluteal tendonitis since late summer. My physical therapist incorporated my foam roller into therapy (that foam roller is a lifesaver some days).

Carey gave me modifications for mat side legs, and I’ve been able to modify others while I rebuild slowly and avoid aggravating the tendon. I still do Balance class with modified sit-to-stands, Barre with fewer reps on the left leg, and a modified Return to Life.

From the On Demand site, I can get yoga with my favorite instructor and different prop classes. Whether I want to use a small ball, foam roller, or wobble pad — I just have to remember my login!

My husband and I continue Circuit Strength Training with Colleen, who also modifies for our bodies. We both love that class and saw visible results after just a few weeks. We’re now in our fourth month and the gains continue. This is the one class I can see him sticking with during golf season!

What is your “why” for staying consistent? Has that changed?

I was never athletic, but I started running in my 20s for stress relief — until my knees wouldn’t cooperate. I had been searching for something I could do consistently to keep my body moving.

In 2018 I was referred to Pilates. It offers the variety and range of movement I need to be durable in the world. Though it can be challenging, I cannot imagine giving up my classes at Rivercity Pilates. The combination of therapies and classes got me through a broken hip — and now through gluteal tendonitis.

Has Pilates changed your mindset toward movement and health?

Absolutely. I never considered “movement” to be an issue until I broke my hip and couldn’t take care of myself because I couldn’t perform certain movements.

At my age, many friends are slowing down and accepting that they can’t move anymore because they’re getting “old” — which is hogwash! It may take a modification or two (or ten), but EVERYONE can get the health benefits of movement, no matter their age.

What would you say to your younger self just starting Pilates?

I would say: DO IT NOW.

Had I started practicing Pilates when I gave up running in my 30s, I doubt tripping over the dog would have broken my hip — or that I’d be working with gluteal tendinopathy now. I’m grateful to have been referred to this studio eight years ago.

Learning Pilates also made me open to trying other new things. After retiring, I still carried chronic stress from working in high-pressure environments. A friend was benefiting from somatic-based trauma classes, so I tried them. Pilates made me open to exploring how stress is stored in the body and how releasing it can improve movement and mindset. Pilates set me up to benefit from a different kind of movement release — thank you!

Any advice for someone just getting started?

Whatever is holding you back — hesitation, fear, old patterns — it’s just an old program of you sabotaging you (in my opinion).

Anything at Rivercity can be modified to meet you where you are and help you move toward where you want to be. All the instructors will work with you to set and achieve realistic goals.

The bad news? You have to do the work and keep showing up. The good news? The gains will far outweigh the effort — they have for me.

In my 70th year on the planet, my (older!) husband and I are even considering starting a new venture. I would never consider that if I couldn’t move — and didn’t know that Carey and the instructors at Rivercity are here to help me through any movement challenge I face.