Pilates

What are your favorite physical activities or exercises?

So when I was little I really wanted to be a gymnast.

I watched gymnastics on tv, I endlessly practiced doing a handstand unsuccessfully, and I successfully practiced headstands.

Fast forward to the summer before my 50th year, and I moved to Texas. My childhood friend was a Pilates instructor, and I had learned about a condition known as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, better known as EDS.

I began doing Pilates. Pilates works the core, and in many ways is like doing gymnastics or dancing on your back.

I realized that with my ligaments being unable to keep things like my shoulders in place, and my abdominal muscles being very weak from having a hysterectomy in 2018, that Pilates provided a lot of help.

I learned, through a trauma training I participated in, that movement and talk therapy work together to help us function as well as we can. I find the meditative aspect of Pilates helpful. Like many therapy sessions, a pilates class is 50 minutes long.

Core strength helps with back pain. We do a lot of footwork, which helps with ankles which tend to turn easily. The work we do in Pilates supports the mental health therapy we can get by helping our bodies stay in tune.

I recommend Pilates to many people in my personal life. My niece and my sister have started doing it as well.

As you think about what helps you to function as well as you can, what do you think about?

What are your favorite exercises that you like to do?

When you think about the mind-body connection, what helps you to calm down, relax, and exercise your muscles?

I encourage all of us to find some way of moving our bodies. That may be aerobic exercise, running, pilates, yoga, or many other things. As we end this year and get close to the holidays, what are you thinking about to help yourself to get or stay physically fit?

I hope your holidays are as peaceful as possible. I will be home in Texas on Christmas for the first time this year, and am looking forward to spending time with my family.