Follow your heart. Sounds simple but not always easy! The decision to open the studio truly came from following my heart. There is absolutely NO WAY I would be the person I am today without the strength, power, and energy of Pilates in my everyday life.
The gift is that we pass it on. Helping others is the foundation to a good life.
Interested?
I was at a funeral last weekend and the priest talked about physical challenges, mentioning pain in the hips and knees (there were at least 10 wheelchair bound people in attendance). I thought to myself how Joe Pilates had a vision for good health, that his exercises were meant to AVOID such a breakdown of the human body. Learn to squat, my friends! Keep strong and flexible!
Here is a quote from about life in 1945! (just think about how Joseph Pilates would create exercises for TODAY’s modern pace).
” This very rapidly progressing world with its ever-increasing faster tempo of living demands that we be physically fit and alert in order that we may succeed in the unceasing race with keen competition which rewards the “go-getter” but bypasses the “no-getter.” Physical fitness can neither be acquired by wishful thinking nor by outright purchase. However, it can be gained through performing the daily exercises conceived for this purpose.” (Contrology, i.e. Pilates as we know it today).
So Pilates will help you feel good in your body, in your humanness. If I am upset or tired or too elated or tense, Pilates allows me to balance all of that. Hence, as Joe further wrote:
“The acquirement and enjoyment of physical well being, mental calm, and spiritual peace are priceless to their possessors if there be any such so fortunate living among us today However, it is the ideal to strive for, and in our opinion, it is only through Contrology that this unique trinity of a balanced body, mind, and spirit can ever be attained.”
This is EXACTLY where the idea of TriPilates came from – balanced body, mind, & spirit.
Most of you know I started a second business because one of my students gave me what I call “a little blanket of love.” I put it on my face right before bed and I wake up with soft, smooth skin, feeling a little younger like I feel! A fellow yogini from my Forrest Yoga class guessed that I am 42, haha. I am turning 60 in a little more than 2 months and feel better than I did when I started Pilates at 42! Not only was I a hefty size 10-12 after 4 kids, but I had very little core strength and felt stiff in my back. It’s not size though, that matters. It’s how I feel inside. I actually KNOW what to do when I feel stiff, or injured, or sluggish. GET MOVING. Practice Pilates everyday! Pilates allows me to enjoy skiing, swimming, rollerblading, waterskiing. Thank you, Joe Pilates! What do you enjoy?
Do what you love in 2017!
How does the Skin Care business fit with a Pilates studio? Well, even though I KNOW everyone has a body and everyone can do and needs Pilates, the reality is that not everyone will do it. It is difficult and takes time to learn to do correctly. Pilates is a journey. Many people give up. Thank goodness I was given an insatiable appetite for learning. It brought me to where I am today! Celebrating 10 years in business and planning for an amazing few years ahead – lots of brainstorming going on!
“Patience and persistence are vital qualities
in the ultimate successful accomplishment of any worthwhile endeavor.”
That being said, everyone has SKIN. I can go ahead and keep doing what I’m doing in my movement or with my skin…. which was lather up and bask in the sun, or take corrective measures. Take CARE of my body and skin. Rodan + Fields products are self-care regimens- there is no middle-man. These anti-aging skincare products are created by two Stanford-trained dermatologists, and their reputations precede themselves – they brought Proactiv worldwide! We are posturing to do the same with R+F #1 Premium Skin Care. So that’s all I’m going to say here – if you want to feel better in your skin, talk to me. Free Samples at the studio. If you are interested in joining me in the business, that’s what I did. Is it a good fit for you! As me how. It’s part of following my heart!
“The mind when housed within a healthful body possesses a glorious sense of power.”
No coincidence that I came across a list written at the end of the summer last year: More Sleep, take care of skin/teeth, more SUP (stand up paddle board), etc. These were things I wanted to pay more attention to this summer. I literally just found it and was truly amazed at what putting an intention into the universe results in. Most people know I am a believer of Karma. What goes around comes around. It all comes back to you!
Just like movement. If I don’t put it out there – get moving, breathe, feel my body – I won’t have one and will be in the wheelchair by 80. Or I can learn, grow, connect, and follow my heart/intuition. Do something different!
Our theme this year has been “Do What You Love in 2017” and it happens to be the lifestyle practice this week for those of us doing the Whole Life Challenge. Yesterday I was near the lake so instead of doing what was in my original plan (errands, etc.), I parked and went rollerblading. Chicago is an amazing city and I feel very lucky to live here. Oh, I have dreams of being in the mountains and by the ocean, but honestly, I am a city girl and LOVE the culture and diversity of home. The Whole Life Challenge was also part of following my heart. Last Fall I realize I was still VERY stressed from losing practically everything near and dear to me – my husband, my home we built, my kids leaving home to start their lives – and I wasn’t sleeping. I joined the Whole Life Challenge not so much to “diet” but to track my lifestyle habits. My #1 goal was to sleep better. Lo and behold, I am on my third challenge and have started a TriPilates team. If you want to join us, the next challenge starts September 16 and I think it’s my favorite one. It ends right before the holidays begin!
Lastly, Joe Pilates himself talks about the additional habits needed to make a healthy body. In Return to Life before the description of the 31 Mat Exercises, he talks about not only developing the smaller muscles to support the bigger ones, the spine, breathing, precision and control with the mind, but diet, sleep, going out in nature, and even “clean, open skin pores,” baths as follows: WOW!
“In our opinion, the correct technique….is to use only a good stiff brush … to stimulate circulation, to thoroughly clean OUT the pores of the skin, and remove dead skin too. The pores of your skin must “breathe” – they cannot do so unless they are kept open and freed from clogging. ….Your skin will …acquire …anew, fresh, glowing appearance, and develop a texture smooth and soft to the touch. So brush away merrily, and heartily too.”
HA! Eureka. SO that’s my validation. Rodan + Fields is actually part of my Pilates journey and can be yours as well. Whether you want to just move your body and feel better in it, or have a lifelong fitness that includes this WHOLE LIFEstyle…. TriPilates challenges you to “try.” Thank you for being on this journey with me. Love and Service always.
