I used to love a good hardcore, treadmill pounding, heart pumping, sweat session. Then I had a baby.
And then it became hard enough just to care for the both of us, my home, and my husband at the most basic minimal levels. I wanted to jump back into my sneakers as soon as my doctor gave me clearance to exercise, I just couldn’t find the motivation. All of a sudden, the idea of my once-beloved, body-breaking, calorie-melting workouts seemed like a torturous undertaking compared to snuggling up with my little princess or simply catching up on sleep.
Once I started to get into a more consistent baby routine and out of just getting by in survival mode, my husband threw out the most painfully obvious statement I had heard in a while.
“You need to get out of the house, and get a hobby, before you lose your mind.”
What he was really saying, was that I needed to start focusing on number one again, so I could be my best for all of the beings that relied on me, day in and day out.
I needed to take care of me.
My back hurt, I felt off balance, and slightly uncoordinated. Then it dawned on me. I had fallen in love with Pilates years back when recovering from a car accident, and sort of missed the empowering feeling of being strapped into the reformer, and the intricate way in which my body responded to each movement.
It took one class, one amazing instructor, one powerful stretch, one hour of disconnecting on the outside world and focusing on nothing but my own body and one day of surprisingly pleasing soreness to realize why THIS is what had been missing from my new mommy life.
Here’s why…
1. You have no choice but to tune out the world and tune in to your body.
Cardio is great, sure, but if you’re anything like me, you’re spending a lot of that cardio time thinking about your endless to do lists at home. Agonizing over whether or not to drag the baby to your in-laws this weekend. Checking your phone relentlessly to pass the time. Checking in on the home front to make sure no one is bleeding or in a crisis.
None of this gives you the necessary escape or mental clarity that quality exercise should provide you with. None of this forces you to take care of number one.
5 Ways Being Healthy Can Be Fun
When you’re engaged in a Pilates class, you have no choice but to tune out the world. You have no choice but to think only of your own body, each movement it makes, each breath you inhale and then slowly exhale. You are finally putting yourself first, without feeling selfish about it.
No checking your phone, no analyzing the perfect body on the reformer next to you. It’s all about you and you alone. It’s therapy. I promise.
2. The Stretch!
Carrying around baby, putting the stroller in the car and taking it out a few times a day, leaning over a changing table, a play mat, the bathtub and cradling baby while you feed all takes a MAJOR toll on your neck, back, and hips.
For me, I was in such constant pain from all of the above activities that I was lying awake each night with neck pain.
The way Pilates forces you to elongate your body, roll your spine softly and gently into the mat, and stretch mindfully and carefully? THIS is therapy for your muscles.
3. The Competition!
You are your only competitor when it comes to Pilates. With each class, you’ll find yourself pushing just a bit harder than the last. Pilates will make you more aware of your inner strength and determination under that tired-mama façade that you’ll feel compelled to push harder every class.
And before you know it, you’ve kicked your own booty, with a little smile on your face that boasts, “Damn, I’m so much better at this now than I was last week.”
And it’ll be so easy to keep your Pilates date with yourself – in fact, it’ll take “me time’’ to a whole new level!
A writer, entrepreneur, radio host, and powerful motivational speaker – Michelle Dempsey, owner and founder of Michelle Dempsey, Very Well-Written, has one goal in mind: empowering women from all walks of life with her incredible personal life story of overcoming adversity and using the lessons learned to achieve success. Internationally published and known for her ability to connect with readers on a deeper level, Michelle has successfully united her passion for business and writing and developed a thriving career, offering writing and editing services, business coaching, branding expertise, and content marketing to business of all kinds.
