Check out this fun crash course on the History of Pilates
NOW FOR MY PILATES STORY
I fell in love with Pilates and committed to study it and share it with others after I experienced life-improving results from it 12 years ago.
Out of college, I earned my AFAA Group Fitness Certification and began teaching fast pace, high energy, sweaty group fitness classes at Memorial Hermann Wellness Center in Houston, Tx. I loved it! After some time my boss, Joetta Dickerson [opened the first Pilates studio in Houston] told me she wanted to start training me in Pilates through the PhysicalMind Institute because she was wanting to add Mat and Reformer Pilates to our schedule there at the Wellness Center. I originally thought, “Sure, that will be an easy class to teach.”
First order of business, take a Pilates class. At this point I had NO IDEA what this even was… and I was probably pronouncing it wrong as well! So, first class, I set my mat up in the back of the room and was ready to memorize these exercises. I remember the lights were dimmed and the atmosphere was quiet and calm. I was afraid I would fall asleep… after all, we were laying down… with the lights out… Joetta had us breathe and she led us into the first exercise. WOW… it was really hard! I could’t do a lot of them, and what I could do felt very sloppy, tight and uncoordinated. Ugh, what was happening??? I was an athlete and a group fitness instructor! I thought I was strong before and what I quickly learned was that my strength was extremely imbalanced.
My takeaway… I NEED TO PRACTICE!!! I started practicing Pilates every night just so I could build strength to perform the exercises. I started reading materials that Joetta gave me to study and began observing her sessions. At this point Joetta was working with the Houston Rockets Basketball Team. An impressional moment I will never forget was watching Joetta work with Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon on his Roll-Up. It was CRAZY! This giant man could hardly do it… and his flexibility was not great. At all. This was the moment Pilates got my attention.
Photo credit: Memorial Hermann Wellness Center
Joetta Dickerson and Hakeem Olajuwon
So after a month of daily practice, my hubby started noticing changes in MY body! My shape was changing!!! Now, I didn’t start doing this for my own benefits. This was my job. I wasn’t looking for results but the results found me! I gained flexibility I’d NEVER had before. I felt great. My shape completely changed and I rehabbed my shoulder that I was suppose to have had surgery on 5 years prior and didn’t. This happened during the time I was studying Reformer Pilates. I COULD NOT BEIEVE THIS!
As I studied this Method, I began to identify with Joseph Pilates… being that we were both sick kids and wanted nothing more that to be strong, fit and healthy.
I enjoy and see the benefit in a variety of fitness methods, but Pilates will ALWAYS be a part of what I do and what I teach. This is something that will keep my body young and add value to my life as long as I live.
And now the NEW Tye4® System from Pilates PhysicalMind Institute is the latest in the Pilates evolution. It’s a wearable Reformer that can go anywhere!
More TYE4 videos and workouts on my Youtube Channel:
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New classes and programs at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital Wellness Center, Murfreesboro Tennessee.
Check 840west.org for more info.
