I asked two of my regular students, who happen to be new mothers, to share their respective thoughts and experiences with Pilates after they both came giddily back to the studio reporting the loss of more than 20+ pounds each!
We all know the Pilates adage, ““In 10 sessions, you feel better, 20 sessions you look better, 30 sessions you have a completely new body,” well both Katerina and Mamta, as new mothers, were newbies to the studio as well as to Pilates as a method of training and fitness. Both showed consistent desire, determination and commitment to changing their bodies. Both women have accomplished amazing work in just about 30 sessions. I told them at the start, “the more consistent the practice, the more refined the work and the more quickly one will see and experience change and results.”
These gals came twice weekly for a few months. Both had stamina and stick-to-itive-ness. They were motivated and just needed a little help with the method and direction and that’s what regular training with Pilates brings to the table for everybody. It offers the structure, form and methodical discipline to help re-create and or re-form the body of old into the body of new.
“Pilates and Gina have helped in reshaping me and are helping me build strength and flexibility for my daily work, while handling my 2-year old. I feel so much more active now.”
Mamta, 30 years old and mother of one small toddler, actually started training more than a year ago and says she “realized my body was not too flexible,” after the first class session. She is not a woman of many words, but has one of the warmest smiles in the room and one of the sweetest dispositions. After finishing the first ten sessions and much hard work, she took a three-month “sabbatical” to travel abroad and visit family. Bummer! This meant, as I told her, she would likely need to begin again, and at the beginning with her return.
“I think Gina has eyes in the back of her head, as the second I do anything wrong or try to catch a little breather, she catches me.”
As such, she ended up joining a class with Katerina, 34 years of age, with a set of 10-month old twin girls. Katerina had tried a few Pilates classes previously at a gym and did not find them “beneficial or challenging because there were about 20 other participants and lots of room for error and slacking.” She says, after the first class session in the studio, (where there is a maximum of 7 students per class) there would be no slacking or place to hide, “every student gets a lot of individualized attention which encourages me to give it my 120% and gives me confidence that I am gaining the most benefit from what I am doing.”
Of course, while all bodies are different, and the responses and reactions to the exercises may be different, the work in the body with the Pilates method is comprehensive, challenging and at the same time, balancing for everyone. Neither one of them were slackers and it’s not my teaching style to let anyone “hide in the corner.”
Mamta’s favorite exercise is Criss Cross, because she knows its the end of the abdominal series and as most new, young mother’s, she wants her “pre-baby body back.” Criss Cross is one of her favorite moves to cinch and whittle the waistline. Her least favorite? Jack Knife, as it makes her work a lot harder; requires a great deal of intention and strength to lift the body from the ground up.
“I am so glad I’ve discovered Pilates as I can feel how it’s making me stronger. “
Katerina has found that the Teaser is her least favorite, but that will change in short order, as it’s most student’s least favorite exercise! After all, we are defying gravity with this move, in much the same way Jack Knife requires maximum strength, intention and breath. The Teaser teach us to practice gracefully “lifting the body and legs from the ground.” It is the ultimate work and challenge of the Teaser in a Pilates session. Interestingly, Neck Pull, (a move my body personally finds to be its nemesis,) is Katerina’s favorite move, she “likes the feeling and sensation of “the burn” as she tucks and descends to the floor.”
“Always feels good after leaving each class. I want to continue doing Pilates all my life.”
The Noticeable Changes
I love when students walk back into the studio with an “aha moment” announcement. It could be, a) the need to buy a new pair of pants, b) noticing the need to move the belt notch tighter, c) the first time they can touch their toes without wincing or d) hitting that target number on the scale. They are all verifiable changes and evidence of the hard work and effort.
Both women love the attention to the noticeable changes they are getting from friends, colleagues, family and especially their husbands, who notice the external physical changes and the evidence of their hard work. Both say they noticed a) more flexibility, length and tone in their legs, b) tightened tummy and c) about 20+ lbs of weight loss since they began working with Pilates.
I notice their increased desire for more challenge, intrigue and interest in other fitness activities. Both have jumped into a TRX class series and are actively pursuing cardiovascular activities on a regular basis. Mamata likes the elliptical and treadmill and begun running; Katerina has also started running and has set a goal to pursue the NYC 1/2 Marathon in 2015.
The physical transformations are evidenced by the weight loss and the toned and tightened body lines. The real transformations are, that in just a few short months, having only scratched the surface of the work, the wonder and depth of Pilates has changed the way both of them are embracing life, health and movement.
That, for me, is the real aHA! It’s a sustainable transformation.
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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.