#1 New Sport I'm Trying -- Pilates
You may argue that pilates isn't a sport. Sure, there are no pilates competitions. But, I would argue what it lacks in sport-ness it makes up for with an unparalleled fitness contribution. Pilates gives you a rockin' bod, improves core strength and helps you overcome injuries. But, most importantly...
I like pilates. It relaxes me. It soothes me. It feeds my soul.
Many of the activities I'm participating in are not so kind...
Such as... The crazy step aerobics/weight training/torture class I went to at my gym which had...MIRRORS so while I experienced my complete and total shaming I could also visually witness it.
Seriously, I'm not being hyperbolic. It was terrible and there were mirrors.
First off, I really didn't understand what I was getting myself into. I thought that I would just be able to do the aerobic part, sweat and be on my way.
WRONG. It was brutal and I was in way over my head.
Women with rock hard bodies were packed into this room like sardines in a can. The floor was a quilt of steps, mats, bar weights and hand weights. Everyone there clearly goes to this class every week. They all know each other and have made a pact to suffer. In the first minute it was obvious I wasn't going to be able to hang in for the entire class. It was also clear that since I was - literally - in the space farthest from the door and the room was crowded, if I left it was going to be humiliating
So, I tried with all my might to hang in there. Fifteen minutes of crunching and squatting and stepping on and off, grapevineing left and right. Until I turned purple and my arms and legs were shaking and it was time for me to either sit down on the floor before I passed out or leave.
And since the room was one giant mirror leaving was really the only option because I did not want to sit and stare at my own failure while watching other people observe my failure. Woman in workout clothing -- we pay attention to one and other's successes and failures.
At that point I hop scotched across the floor, trying not to make eye contact or bump into anyone, trip over the weights or put my gym shoe on an exercise matt. No easy task. The few times I did catch someone's eye she looked...annoyed.
Or maybe just resentful I was breaking free. Not that they looked like they wanted to escape -- but, that's half the battle when you're an athlete, faking it, hiding your suffering, putting on a game face.
Did I mention there were mirrors AND other woman? I had no game face and didn't have the fitness to back up my participation in that class. We've all been there. Right?
I did another 20 minutes on the recumbent bike and then headed home.
After workouts like this, I need pilates.
Pilates is brutal in some ways. You work muscles foreign to anatomy professors. Did you know we had abdominal muscles under our abdominal muscles? 'Cause I didn't... until I started doing pilates. Now, I not only know about them, I've USED them.
Last week, my usual instructor wasn't available so, another woman substituted. We were working on a move that is for all intents and purposes a straight legged sit up. I try to sweep up in a graceful movement, but my abs aren't strong enough. When I get halfway up I tell my instructor, I can't go any further. She puts her hand on my back and says, "That's why I'm helping you. You aren't doing this alone."
We do a few more. She keeps her hand on my back, until the third or fourth one, I go up and her hand does not. At which point she says to me, "I was never helping. You're stronger than you think."
Which is probably why I was able to do the the hop scotch of shame, because I am stronger than I think. Yay me! And ouch.
