Pilates Like a Good Friend

                                                                                       By Aspasia P. Simeone

When I discovered Pilates all those years ago…I secretly said to myself… there are 2 kinds of people in world…Those that do Pilates and those that don’t. I felt it was a fair assessment as it can distinguish and set apart those of us that understand that strength works from the inside out, and isn’t merely a measure of what one’s muscles are capable of. Over time, little things manifest themselves that reinforce my beliefs in that; ‘Pilates is so much more than a form of conventional exercise’. I had one of those little revelations when I read a friends Facebook post declaring their passion for Pilates and celebrating their amazing friends. Like a sudden burst of light in that moment, I knew exactly what they meant. The similarities are uncanny, although I never related it in that manner until I read that post. After giving it a little thought it all came together:

1. Like a good friend, Pilates knows your strengths and weaknesses, and has the best intentions for you and accepts you and would never turn you away.

2. It is always with you. Like a good friend, it leaves you with an inner sense of awareness and the confidence knowing that you have something very special in your life.

3. Like a good friend it will help find tendencies that may cause imbalances and bring them to your attention for recognition.

4. And probably not last, like a good friend it grows with you and only gets better as you connect on deeper levels.

I think about Pilates every day. In some ways it is almost ‘unintentionally continuous’. If that makes any sense. It is what I am. Although many people think of me as just an instructor, I am so thankful for those that know me on that deeper level.

I love that I still get so excited when I walk into a studio….Excited and a bit nervous. But I learned early on as a group instructor that having that combination of anticipation, is what drives me forward and keeps it extraordinary. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to do what I do and share this with so many.