Beginning again: It’s never too late to start Pilates.

Sep 14

Pilates can be intimidating for those who are new to it. Perhaps you’re coming back from injury, prolonged time away from fitness, or maybe the idea of moving your body in this way is completely foreign to you. Not to mention all the equipment that Pilates seems to use! It’s important to remember that at one point, we were all beginners. And in fact, we are all still learning.

Hi. I’m Genevieve and I am excited to be a part of the Acuity team. When not online, I work with people coming back from injury. Most of them are completely new to Pilates and are coming to see me on the recommendation of a chiropractor. They might be unsure of what Pilates can do for them — many have been experiencing pain and even frustration for some time. Here is what I say:

1. We’re going to have fun!

Beginning again is an amazing opportunity to have fun. Accept that you won’t be ‘an expert’ right off the bat. Relax, be curious, and create space to experience something new.

2. We’re going to learn something!

Learning means overcoming a limitation; whether real or imposed by our own worries that we might not be good enough. And learning a new pattern of movement, a new technique for moving pain free, or finding out that you’re stronger than you thought is amazing. I encourage everyone to try different modalities — different ways to move your body — because you’ll walk away with a greater appreciation for what your body can do.

3. We’re going to realize it’s actually not that hard!

Many people think Pilates ‘is hard’ and requires a certain level of physical coordination before even beginning. We start with the breath. We start with counting. And we start on our backs, relaxed, and letting go of the day. How easy is that?!