Do you have that one Pilates friend that is just happy to be there?
No matter what HELL may be headed your way during group class or during a semi-private session, you can also count on this Pilates friend to make your session more enjoyable?
- Someone you get to share your ups and downs with.
- Someone who knows how to laugh off the hard stuff.
- Someone who always celebrates everyone else’s wins.
- Someone who understands your love for the work (Pilates). Because they love it, too!
- Someone who just makes class more enjoyable because they are there.
- Someone who is willing to go “butts up” with you for a photo.
Through my training experience, I had the pleasure of having that one Pilates friend who did all the stuff above! Her words during every workshop were “just think of how much better we’ll be in a year!” - such an amazing attitude. She made me smile and I believed and agreed with her!!!
We shared experiences and played and were able to be ourselves while we learned the work. Between her and my mentor, I believe I became a better teacher due to their influences and positive attitudes. I hope everyone is as lucky as I am - finding that one Pilates friend who understands you!
When you are first starting out:
- I know it can be hard to practice Pilates in a bigger body.
- I know it can be hard to find the right fit (studio/class/group/etc).
- I know it can feel like you don’t fit in sometimes.
- I know it can be lonely if you are practicing on your own.
- I know it can feel like there’s no one else out there that has been where you’ve been (and maybe that’s true)
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- I also know that things can change.
- I also know that sometimes you just need to take a leap of faith and go for it.
- I also know that there is a place for everyone in this world.
- I also know that one or five bad experiences does not mean you weren’t meant to move forward.
Here’s my love letter to you...
One of my goals, as a teacher, is to be a person who you can share your ups and downs with, who can help you get through the hard stuff, who will celebrate your wins, who has a true love for the work, who will help make your session more enjoyable...and I’d even go “butts up” with you for a photo.
I’m not asking you to take a class with me or book a private or semi-private session. I’m just saying that “I see you”.
I know there are people out in the world trying to find their first step forward, or trying to figure out what that first step might be because they don’t see a place where they fit in. If this is you, don’t give up. I believe you can find your first step!
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Photo: ”Butts up!” with that (my) one Pilates friend
*I have other Pilates friends, but this friend has been on a journey with me for over 2 years now, and through teacher training! Time flies and I know how lucky I am to have a Pilates friend like her!
Me - left; Pilates friend - right
A side note about Teacher Training and being a practitioner and teacher in a bigger Pilates body:
I recently reread a blog post my mentor, Carey Sadler, posted on her site that was titled, “How Much Should I Weigh Before Becoming A Pilates Teacher?”
When I was looking at the local teacher training program, I read everything about the program, but I also read all the blogs my mentor wrote about her program. **This particular post sealed the deal for me.
She wrote: “Instead of worrying about their weight or body size, I encourage those contemplating Pilates teacher training to ask themselves these questions [a list of questions not related to physical appearance or health]”
I’ve put the link below because you could easily change up the questions to be applicable to starting a Pilates practice.
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