Just eight days after my 30th birthday and I've completed a challenge from The List - I just tried reformer Pilates! Woo hoo!
I just got home from a beginner reformer Pilates class about an hour ago. It was incredible. Let's start from the beginning.
I added this challenge to my list because I need to get in (less-round) shape and I've been wanting to try reformer Pilates for a couple years now (I'll do anything to avoid cardio!). I even looked into different studios in London, but I could just never pull the trigger on it. Over the past eight or so years I've gained a lot of weight, then lost a lot of weight, and since moving to London two years ago, gained a lot of weight, again. When you get to that heaviest-weight-in-your-life stage it's so hard to find the motivation to exercise. Actually, it's paralyzing and I was finding any excuse to avoid it. Having lost the weight before, I knew how hard it was and how long it took and mentally I was just not up for the challenge. There were times where I just said, f*ck it, I'm in the chub club I'm fine with that, let's move on with life. However, when you turn 30 and you're considering starting a family (which physically relies on me), you have to get your ass in gear, tell your brain to shut the hell up, and optimistically say good-bye to the gut. And so it goes.....
I'd heard so many wonderful things about what reformer Pilates does for your core, muscle tone, body shape, strength, and flexibility. I'm terrible at cardio and when a trainer or instructor makes me jump around I give them the death glare, but even when I'm out of shape I have pretty good conditioning strength. I'm generally strong, controlled and I have good technique with these types of exercises. I think it's because I was a dancer growing up. Despite my current oompa loompa size, I can work my core well so I figured me and the reformer could make a good pair.
My daily deal obsession came in handy when I stumbled across a LivingSocial deal for a place called Frame (pictures courtesy of their website. Oh, God, I hope you didn't think those were pictures of me, haha! I wish!) who just opened their second studio near me in Queens Park (first studio is in Shoreditch). Considering their reformer Pilates classes cost £18 ($29)/hour, the £38 ($61) for nine classes was a super deal!
For those unfamiliar with this type of Pilates it uses an apparatus called a reformer which creates resistance using multiple springs, gears, pulleys, and other crazy stuff. The reformer looks more like a some sort of bondage sex bed and at first looks intimidating, but it's actually comfortable, stable, and allows for fluid, controlled movement. Here's a video that shows some of the types of exercises I did today (this woman makes it look so easy!):
I added this challenge to my list because I need to get in (less-round) shape and I've been wanting to try reformer Pilates for a couple years now (I'll do anything to avoid cardio!). I even looked into different studios in London, but I could just never pull the trigger on it. Over the past eight or so years I've gained a lot of weight, then lost a lot of weight, and since moving to London two years ago, gained a lot of weight, again. When you get to that heaviest-weight-in-your-life stage it's so hard to find the motivation to exercise. Actually, it's paralyzing and I was finding any excuse to avoid it. Having lost the weight before, I knew how hard it was and how long it took and mentally I was just not up for the challenge. There were times where I just said, f*ck it, I'm in the chub club I'm fine with that, let's move on with life. However, when you turn 30 and you're considering starting a family (which physically relies on me), you have to get your ass in gear, tell your brain to shut the hell up, and optimistically say good-bye to the gut. And so it goes.....
I'd heard so many wonderful things about what reformer Pilates does for your core, muscle tone, body shape, strength, and flexibility. I'm terrible at cardio and when a trainer or instructor makes me jump around I give them the death glare, but even when I'm out of shape I have pretty good conditioning strength. I'm generally strong, controlled and I have good technique with these types of exercises. I think it's because I was a dancer growing up. Despite my current oompa loompa size, I can work my core well so I figured me and the reformer could make a good pair.My daily deal obsession came in handy when I stumbled across a LivingSocial deal for a place called Frame (pictures courtesy of their website. Oh, God, I hope you didn't think those were pictures of me, haha! I wish!) who just opened their second studio near me in Queens Park (first studio is in Shoreditch). Considering their reformer Pilates classes cost £18 ($29)/hour, the £38 ($61) for nine classes was a super deal!
For those unfamiliar with this type of Pilates it uses an apparatus called a reformer which creates resistance using multiple springs, gears, pulleys, and other crazy stuff. The reformer looks more like a some sort of bondage sex bed and at first looks intimidating, but it's actually comfortable, stable, and allows for fluid, controlled movement. Here's a video that shows some of the types of exercises I did today (this woman makes it look so easy!):
Maybe someday I will be like this crazy betch...
So glad you liked the first class. I've always wanted to try the reformer. Keep it up! Can't wait to hear what you think after these nine sessions :)
ReplyDeleteOlga, I did three in the first week alone and I loved it! Unfortunately I sprained my ankle walking home one day (clumsy me stepped on the bad side of a cracked side walk) so I haven't been back in a couple weeks, but will get going again very soon!
DeleteLOL. I've been doing Reformer Pilates for awhile and I saw that same picture and I thought "That will be my strive-toward goal for this year." Because it's certainly going to take me at least a year to get up there, that's for sure.
ReplyDelete