The First Steps are the Hardest!

Diane (left) and me! Friends for Life!

I’m a student at Rivercity Pilates, and I’ve been practicing Pilates for almost two years.   I had no idea that my Pilates practice would turn me into Pilates evangelist. Pilates has changed the way my over 55 year old body feels! So when one of my oldest friends (old being the time we’ve been friends, not how old she is) stopped here on her way to visit family for Christmas, I seized the opportunity to share some Pilates.

I have to admit, I guilted her into saying she’d try Pilates.   I asked her to do one thing for me, without telling her what it was, I just said it was important to me.   Of course she said yes.  Then she asked me what to wear!     I made an appointment for her with Carey at Rivercity Pilates, knowing that Carey would not push her to do things that her body wasn’t ready for.

Diane is a band director in Ohio.  Her days are active introducing students to instruments, teaching, conducting, and her job requires her to travel between school buildings in her district.  When she gets home after school, she’s tired, and I totally get that.    What I’m saying is that she’s not the type of person who stops at the gym and walks on the treadmill on the way home from school.  Like me, Diane has struggled with her weight, and like me and many Americans, being overweight contributes to some health issues for her.

Imagine how hard it is for Diane to know that I had scheduled a private Pilates session for her.   What she knows of Pilates is what she’s heard from me, and the pictures she might have seen on the internet.   Those pictures often have people showing their flexibility and strength by getting into very advanced positions on the Pilates equipment.   There should be a caption saying “don’t try these exercises at home!” or “this was not this person’s first Pilates session”.

The first Pilates session at Rivercity Pilates is filled with information.  Carey goes over the Pilates principles while introducing you to some Pilates exercises, and she is very conscious of your working level.  The first exercise was learning the Pilates “breath” and the second exercise was doing some arm circles.    I could feel Diane get more comfortable with every move.  Carey was not asking her body to do things that it wasn’t ready for.  Carey was giving her exercises that she could do every day, and help her body be able to move better.   Like many of us, when Diane’s arm went above her head, her shoulder went right with it, so the instruction turned to shoulder stability.   Remember, Diane is a band director, so shoulder stability is something that will help her every day as she conducts the band.

Check Diane’s reaction at the end of this video when she was learning Arm Circles!

http://https://youtu.be/Zo1ZL_EQt50

In Diane’s case, she is fighting some arthritis in her knees, so a good part of Diane’s first Pilates session was spent in stretching the muscles in her legs.  Carey asked Diane after nearly every movement how that movement felt in her body, and adjusted when Diane felt that the movement wasn’t working for her.

I admire Diane for so many things, but today I admire her for having the courage to take that first step and go to a Pilates session.   She was able to see the value of taking private Pilates sessions while she is learning, and she will know what to expect when she signs up for Pilates private sessions in Columbus.  Carey researched and found a studio for her after her session since she lives in another state!

This is NOT an exercise you would do in your first Pilates visit!

Yes, I asked Diane for her permission to share the story, and to take pictures and videos during her session.  The first steps are the hardest. Making a commitment to move, and going into the studio that first time is difficult, especially if you don’t have a friend who guilts you into saying you will go and drives you there to make sure you will show up!  We shared this story to let everyone know that those pictures you see when you google Pilates images, are not the types of exercises that you go on your first visit.

Being scared about starting an exercise program is normal and expected.   I hope our story has helped you realize that making that first appointment, and walking in the door of the Pilates studio will be more difficult than your first Pilates session.   Learn from Diane, and make it your New Year’s Resolution to schedule your complimentary session at Rivercity Pilates today!