I have been known to be a Pilates snob. I admit it. Sometimes I am better at hiding it than others. But I have a reason for it. Other forms of exercise just do not measure up. Well, yes, I do adore aerial arts, but that is a form of expression; my inner dancer being revived. And, true, I love running but that is different, it's cardio. When it comes to strength and flexibility training I have found few forms, both new and old, to provide the results and satisfaction that a good Pilates session does. Now I only speak for myself and do not disparage anyone else's love of yoga or kettle ball workouts. I have always said, "find the exercises you love and do them, that is what matters most." Even it if it not Pilates. There are constantly new forms of exercise popping up, with some star raving about how it keeps her/him in shape. And I do not try them all. I often hear from some of you about something you have tried and I take your word for it. But I have been on a little "trying" spree lately.

I gave yoga another go, still not a big fan. I attempted, and sort of fell in love with Power Plate, and a friend has me intrigued and lined up to try Jacob's ladder. However, there is one I recently sampled and wish to share with you. It is called Core Pole.

Core Pole? While it sounds suspiciously similar to the pole dancing craze that hit L.A. a while ago, it is far from it. The workout is done with a weighted tower type cylinder that has elastic bands of varying strengths attached to it. It has a basis of Pilates and is designed to mimic movements from the Cadillac and Reformer. It is also intended to bring these types of exercises to a group class. Several people can be arranged in a circle around the tower and the teacher leads them through a routine.

For my first taste I decided to schedule a private session. I arrived at the studio excited to try it and open to the whole experience. I explained to the teacher that I have practiced Pilates for 12 years but that it was classical Pilates (note I did not disclose that I am a teacher, I didn't lie, I just didn't tell the whole truth). She asked if I had any injuries, what other exercises I did and so on (that always wins points in my mind). We then went through some standing and rounding forward and up again with the straps in my hands. Ok, so far not hard but it was the warm-up I figured. Then as we moved through a few more exercises she explained that she wanted me to drop my chest and round my upper back. Huh? Ok, I did it. But it was no time before pulling my Powerhouse in and up led to my chest being lifted again. She corrected me again. She wanted me to drop my chest, to cave it in, in order to stretch my upper back. I thought "have you ever seen a picture of Joseph Pilates? His chest is lifted!" So I just breathe and carry on through exercises which were like Leg Circles on the Reformer, Chest Expansion and so on. By the next time she corrected my chest a few more times I was sure I would not do this again, private or class.

The hour surprisingly went fast and I was soon in the changing room to get ready for my day. While normally I have clothes that require line-drying after a workout, my lululemon gear was not even damp. I did not even need to re-apply deodorant, I realized I sweated more on the metro ride there than I did in the class! So I politely thanked them and left, thinking: this is why I still love Pilates.