This past Saturday was a new first for me. I didn’t plan it or orchestrate it. Truthfully, I didn’t realize it was going to happen until the first person walked thru the door for her second private session in the studio.
It was Saturday, March 18th. Her session was 8:30am and the first of the morning. After she was situated and ready to get started, I gleefully told her, “I have to take a picture of you, this is the first time – ever – that every session hour of the day will be with a black woman. It’s Women’s History Month and this is the first time, in the 20+ years I have been teaching that every person booked on my calendar for the next 10+ Saturday’s is a Black Woman.”
I was truly joyful and elated. She got it and quickly obliged, lying down on the Reformer.
Each of us, myself included, have “issues” to work through. We are all old enough to realize and understand that physical work requires our focused attention, and that both our mental and emotional intelligence are equally involved.
All single, independent, beautiful strong women; managing organizations, departments in healthcare, science and technology and carving out time for our own health and sanity with Pilates.
It’s Women’s History Month and this is the first time, in the 20+ years I have been teaching that every person booked on my Private Session calendar for the next 10+ Saturdays is a Black Woman.”
BlackGirlSaturday
Ingrid was just cleared by her physician to resume physical training after having fibroid tumors removed. I had fibroids removed twice; once in my 30s and again after 45 yrs of age. Black women suffer with these benign growths 3x more frequently than white women. Noncancerous fibroids can cause painful and excessive uterine bleeding, interfere with everyday life and self-image, and affect fertility.
Last week, when she came in she shared her decision to get them removed was influenced by a conversation we had months earlier. “You don’t realize the impact of what you say, no matter how flippant it may be…..’girl, go get those things taken out, they are not serving you.’”
Welcome back Ingrid!
She and I have known each other a really long time. This was not her first time on the equipment; we have worked, laughed, danced, drank and squealed together for many years; and I am so honored to have her trust to help her strengthen and re-knit her body back together.
BlackGirlSaturday
The second session hour belongs to Jennifer who traveled home to Trinidad for an extended vacation. Before she left tho, she booked/locked the 10am hour so no one else would take her “slot on the calendar.” Like me, she is a #PilatesOver65 practitioner who came to the Pilates method later in life and as a result, has to consciously work diligently and consistently at the practice.
Our aging bodies/systems need a little more attention and require a lot more time to heal everything that is broken, bruised or simply out of whack or alignment. I have been helping Jennifer stay on her physical health path for more than 8-10 years and am very grateful to walk and experience it together.
Glad you are back Jennifer!
BlackGirlSaturday
We got this Celina!
The third hour is owned by Celina, a new practitioner to the method. She found me via Instagram with a private DM inquiry as to whether I was “accepting new private clients.” A department head in a technology company; she locked into the 11:30am hour approximately 6-8 months ago and has been consistently working 1x a week to strengthen her body and uses the hour to de-stress and release the knots her job and life have tied her up into.
Celina is not alone in “holding her stress” in her neck and shoulders. The painful life stressors of the past three years have made it so apparently clear of the need, value, fullness and rich experience that movement within the Pilates system can provide.
BlackGirlSaturday
I am honored and thankful to be a teacher that can support this crew, in particular, teaching these timeless principles. I am grateful for the gift of sharing time with these three beautiful women in my life circle at this moment.
Of course, I am the fourth Black Woman claiming the history on #BlackGirlSaturday. Ater each of them left the Movement Space, I started my #PersonalPlan to reduce/tone/tighten up a few of my excess (10 pounds is the target goal) in 45 Days. I have a trip planned to Morocco in May (more details about that in a subsquent post) and I do not want to carry the extra ten with me.
I am documenting all the wins along the way, and holding myself accountable. I will be using a full toolbox of movement modalities, Pilates, Yoga, Cardio, Weights, and Resistance with ropes, clubs and bands.
You know what’s up 👈🏽
Gina Jackson, is a classically trained Pilates Teacher and has been teaching along the Gold Coast of Hudson and Bergen County, NJ for the past fifteen+ years.
Certified by Power Pilates of New York, Gina has trained with Master Teachers Bob Liekens, Susan Moran and Brett Howard; loved workshop training with Cary Regan and Blossom Leilani-Crawford and has particularly enjoyed listening to the personal stories as told by Pilates Elders, Kathy Grant and Lolita San Miguel.
An active teacher and blogger, Gina manages a private personal training business supporting a myriad of clients, teaching all to honor their health, strength and life with the principles of Pilates at its core.