“Ugh, I hate pilates, it’s soooo boring!” Words and thoughts that have exited my lips on more than one occasion. As a yoga teacher and wellness therapist, I get asked many questions about many topics, and one of them is about Pilates. Have I done it, what’s the difference between yoga and pilates, etc. So, my rule is if I’m asked a question, I better know the answer and have done the research, none of this “I’ve heard…” So, yes I have gone to a few mat pilates classes at the gym and I wasn’t ever very impressed or excited about them.
Yet here I am embarking on a 1 Month Pilates Detox Challenge at BPS Tensegrity this month. So, how did this happen…to the yoga teacher?!
Pilates Reformer Mermaid Side Squat
Lana Johnson, the owner and head physiotherapist at BPS Tensegrity entered my life approximately a year ago. Through conversation, I mentioned to her that no matter how much yoga I do, the slight bulge in my tummy (which I have always had) doesn’t seem to want to budge. Lana was kind enough to offer an assessment, so off I went and came to find out my hips faced one direction while my thoracic spine headed into a different direction…so I was constantly twisted. As a result of my twisted spine and hips, my abdominal muscles were not able to move in the correct position for proper alignment let alone functioning. My obliques were over firing whilst my transverse abdominals were taking a constant holiday.
At BPS Tensegrity the physical therapy is conducted via Pilates! This is not just limited to those clients such as myself interested in a new challenge, exercise, or detox, but is also a conducive method for those clients of BPS Tensegrity that are undergoing Physiotherapy at the clinic…talk about a world of knowledge that these Physiotherapists/Pilates instructors hold.
My first physical therapy session was like no physical therapy session I had ever done before! I was actually getting exercise in, using weights and resistance from the reformer machine and learning how to use the CORRECT muscle for each exercise. I was suddenly doing pilates exercises and liked it! After just one session, I suddenly realised that my posture has changed slightly and my yoga practice even changed a bit as well. I was already beginning to notice how I stand, sit and walk daily as my mind is more actively switched onto each movement.
I led a yoga class after the first Pilates session with BPS Tensegrity, and my awareness to each asana had already adjusted, I felt more grounded in my feet, more aware with my core muscles and even how I transitioned from one posture to another. My tummy was starting to feel better and much to my husband’s delight and excitement I am starting to get a bit of a booty (my wonderful father passed down his good legs but sadly a flat bum).
Pilates Reformer “scooter”
So through my new found like, yes like, of pilates incorporating physiotherapy into each session, I have begun to learn new things about how my body worked, and more importantly how it was meant to work. I came to find out that my core isn’t what I thought it was and that I was overcompensating with my upper body strength. My half-pigeon pose wasn’t as easy as it once was, my thorax was driving my shoulder, hips and foot, which at times caused me pain and discomfort in certain asanas. All this sounds crazy and confusing, I know and it has taken over a year for me to understand it, remember it and be conscious to all of it myself.
Back to this challenge business. I have to say I’m not one of those fitness-adrenaline-junkies who jump at the words ‘Challenge’, ‘Race’, or ‘Tough Mudder’…I like yoga. That should pretty much say it all. In saying this, I naturally am quite inquisitive and like to explore. I will commence the first week of this new 1 Month Pilates Detox Challenge with an open mind and excitement. The initial step into this 1 Month Pilates Challenge was an Injury Assessment led by a qualified Physiotherapist where I was measured, asked to hold a wall squat as long as I could (legs are my weakest body part), stand on one leg with eyes closed, do a tricep push-up (aka chataranga, ha ha, 1 extra point to the yogi!), reach for my toes and demonstrate my shoulder mobility. All of this was noted and some even videoed. We’ll be comparing this to the same points at the end of the challenge, I’m excited!
So with this being said, I wonder what might happen to my mind and body if I up my pilates to 4 times per week and do 2 yoga classes per week? I ran this idea past my husband, who is curious as well…and I’m sure the thought of the potential GIB (growth in booty) resulted in his remark, OF COURSE GO FOR IT!
I hope the yogis don’t disown me!!
I’ll report my mid month discoveries, stay tuned…
