Grace Made

Growing up I did not consider myself the ‘fitness girl’ type. While I did sign up for a lot of different sports like basketball, volleyball, track and field – even running club – I never really continued practicing said sports. However, signing up for new things did help me figure out what I like, and don’t like, when it comes to staying active.

I quickly realized I was not a very competitive person when it came to sports (I am, though, a bit too competitive in other aspects). If the other team won, good for them! If we won, great! Thus, I tried looking for other activities that did not involve teams going against each other – like running! Lots of people around my age have started to take up running, especially long-distance, and I was intrigued in finding out if this would be my “go-to active hobby.”

Alas, over time I realized running was not it for me either. I did enjoy hiking and walking, but when it came to running I felt like I was drowning in my own huffs and puffs. I mainly blame my bad breathing technique, but overall I did not find enough interest in it to try and fix what was broken.

That’s when I started to consider pilates. It was an activity my mind kept going back to, especially since my mom used to practice it and enjoyed it so much. I was very nervous as it required knowledge of using the reformer, and I had only seen it briefly when accompanying my mom (didn’t do the workout, basically just worked on homework while she worked out).

Besides the spooky reformer and its springs, I also was not sure if it was worth the investment, as it required me paying for classes and I had been attending my university’s gym for free (which I want to keep doing as long as I am a student, let’s not take this blessing for granted).

Pushing all fears aside, I went ahead and paid for a first-time customer 2-class pass and reserved a spot for myself around the end of September. Alone. This is probably the first activity I have enrolled in solo since I moved abroad, and let me tell you, I was terrified and happy at the same time. Sometimes pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is just what you need to grow and get better.

The night before the class, just like any type A human being, I watched a lot of TikToks about reformers and what grippy socks are. To motivate myself, I even picked out a cute little outfit and prepared a “pilates bag” where I keep a small face towel (in case I become a sweaty mess), lip gloss, perfume, and deodorant – basic necessities if you ask me.

The day arrived and I woke up early, put on my grippy socks, and headed to the studio. As soon as I entered, I was surrounded by girls who, like me, are working on being active and becoming the best versions of themselves. One key thing I was hoping to also find in this journey is community and new connections, and while I am still a bit shy at it, I have had incredible conversations and felt welcomed the moment I opened the door.

I was directed to the reformer I had reserved my spot for and got all the cute pictures (the studio was gorgeous). We started the class, and what first appeared like a spooky reformer machine later turned out to be a supportive friend – literally. I did not think I would enjoy using machines as much, since I had only tried the elliptical and treadmill, but the exercises we worked on felt like a full-body massage. I was introduced to the concept of how much strength can come from doing small movements. I also realized I am a lot more capable than I thought when it came to several movements and exercises, which only made me more motivated to continue and perfect every skill.

Throughout the class, we were encouraged to de-stress and leave behind the weight daily life sets on our backs, which is something I did not expect. I quickly realized how workouts can be more than just being active, but also serve as a mental detox. By the end of class, I was a changed person. Over the course of the next weeks, I kept looking forward to each class and the excitement never went away. That is when I realized I found my perfect activity. More than that, it became a perfect routine and way of life.

This journey has inspired me to be more serious when it comes to staying consistent to an activity and, in a way, has motivated me to get back into content creation. It also helped improve my circadian rhythm, posture, and levels of stress.

What started as a 2-day “maybe” turned into something I now love and look forward to becoming better at. Safe to say, I now have a monthly membership and an updated budget (and a few more pairs of grippy socks). If you’ve ever told yourself you’re not a ‘fitness girly’ but yearn to be active and incorporate it into your day-to-day, Pilates might just change that story for you too. If it is not something you are interested in or have already tried and did not enjoy, maybe this is your sign to try something new even if it is scary. No one starts out a professional at doing something they love – it is that same passion that fuels growth and success.