Pilates was a natural fit for me after my very first class. For me, it was love at first roll-up! I took a Pilates mat class that my friend was teaching. She was like, “Shannon, you have to take my Pilates class!” I thought “what’s that?” But I was intrigued by something new, so I took her mat class and nothing was ever the same.
It had such a profound effect on my lower back because I had always had an achy breaky, lower back, which I really hated. I was chronically sore. I was young. I was fit. I worked out all the time. Why did I have chronic low back pain? It turned out that basically it was just my alignment and posture was so poor. And once I figured that out through a Pilates practice, I had no more pain, which was absolutely life changing. So for me, I traded in my pantyhose and high heels, and I got some yoga pants and went bare foot and never looked back.
I knew in my heart, and I knew in my body that it was the best thing I could do for myself. So I took that first Pilates mat course, and then I took another one, and then I took another one and then I was like, “Oh my gosh, this stuff is the most amazing feeling workout that I have ever done ever in my life!” I knew for me that it was the secret to longevity, and I am just called to share that with everybody. I simply think everyone in the world needs to do Pilates. I’m that passionate about it.
I have had people say to me that Pilates is more than just physical movement, it’s a philosophy and a way of life, and I think that’s somewhat true. Yoga, for example, becomes very much like a community, and we are too, but I want to be clear that this is a whole-body workout. Pilates works out your whole body, and that’s an important distinction.
The other reason I love Pilates is that it really is a workout for people of all ages, all strengths and all physical types. Whether you are currently an athlete, or had been an athlete in your youth, Pilates is a wonderful way to balance your body and strengthen your core muscles. Most importantly, it’s an important way to restore your body. All of the aches and pains of joints that have been used improperly and muscles that have been torn and reknit together over and over again during your sporting days can be restored through the stretching and strengthening we do in Pilates.
