For some of us, it’s been almost nineteen months since we set foot in a gym, or a pool, or a Pilates studio. We’ve walked. Oh, how we’ve walked. And we’ve tried the online thing. We’ve curled up on the couch to watch Mare of Easttown and Ted Lasso, and we’ve spent a lot more time looking at our phones. The hips are a bit creaky, neck and shoulders a little tight. Things feel…softer than before? Everything requires a bit more effort than it did in 2019.

I looked at Pinterest for some Top Motivational Quotes, things that would really inspire people to get back into their Pilates routine, but they all seemed a little cheesy. It’s not like you don’t already love Pilates! That’s why so many of you were regular fixtures at the studio–Pilates is challenging…AND fun. It’s work AND it’s joyful. It can kick your butt AND it can help you sleep, or improve your posture, or give you more energy and strength to do the other things you love. But as I learned from my Pinterest search, “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” (Quote attributed to Jim Ryun.) So what if we’re out of the habit?

Apparently, there’s this thing out there (thank you again, Pinterest) called the 21/90 rule. It takes 21 days to create a habit and 90 days to build a lifestyle. That means, if you reignite your Pilates practice today, by Halloween you’ll be back in the habit, and Pilates could be part of your lifestyle again by the New Year. That doesn’t seem so bad. And today, with both online AND studio classes available, as well as our ever expanding video library, you can do Pilates practically any time you want.

Now I want to take a moment to speak to the uninitiated, the folks who are lurking around the fringes, who signed up for this newsletter, but haven’t yet taken the plunge. Maybe there’s a little anxiety around being in the studio with a bunch of strangers–that’s totally fair, because it actually does feel strange to be around people again. But we are following all of the recommended protocols–and more–including distancing, wearing masks, and requiring all clients and staff to be fully vaccinated. But maybe there’s some hesitation because it’s an unknown, or you feel out of shape or de-conditioned. Pretty much every one of us has felt that way during our Pilates journey, even before the pandemic. It can be intimidating to walk into a studio for the first time. Or the second. Or the hundred and twenty-second! That’s why we have so many options for how our clients can participate in our offerings. You want to start in the comfort of your own home? Online Classes across the spectrum are available, as well as video on demand. Need a refresher or a gentle introduction one-on-one? Pilates Personalized is a way to dip a toe in with an instructor who can assess your needs and goals and guide you towards the best options for where you are right now. Don’t know how to choose the right class? Check out the Cheat Sheet in our newsletter and learn more about them, plus our other special offers, like the Pilates Primer series.

Our entire team is here to lift you up and make the time you spend with us worthwhile. In the words of Anonymous: One day or day one, you decide.

See you soon!
-Pam