After nearly twelve years of practicing and teaching Pilates, it is hard to recall the feeling of doing Pilates for the first time. I remember my excitement and joy at discovering it. I remember thinking it was challenging but I don’t remember the “feeling” of doing Pilates: the actual difficulty of Leg Springs in Level 1, the coordination involved in Leg Circles on the Reformer, the struggles of learning the breathing, nor the subtle nuances of the body changing from non-Pilates movement in day-to-day life to Pilates-influenced walking, sitting, posture. 

In many ways, Pilates has become second nature for me. The responses clients share with me and the changes I can see in their bodies and movements inform my teaching skills in this department but it is not quite the same as being able to relate to what clients say by feeling it in your own body.

In following my dream since I was 18 to be a university professor, I have entered into a doctorate program. This has taken me away from my Pilates world in many respects. I have moved from Los Angeles to London. I entrusted my clients for the period I am gone to a few colleagues.  I even left my equipment in the care of friends and clients. No longer can I enter my Pilates “studio” at any time of day for a quick workout by walking a few steps into the second bedroom of my apartment. Once in London I have had to search for a Pilates studio with Gratz equipment. I even made my apartment choice based on proximity to such studios. Instead of walking a few steps to do a quick Reformer workout, I now have to either walk 50 minutes or cycle 30 minutes to a studio to do Pilates. I do not even have the ability to do mat in my apartment as the room is too small! With the above changes to my Pilates routine comes the normal adjustments of living in a new city and settling in. All this to say, I was not able to do my normal Pilates workouts for the first few months here!