It’s Amazing How Pilates Proves to Be Life Changing

It’s amazing how Pilates proves to be life-changing.   How often do you complain about your back feeling tight and sore?  Mike lived with a sore back for years.  Now,  if you ask his wife and daughters, they will tell you that he doesn’t complain anymore.  His wife, Francine, had been attending Pilates classes with at b.PILATES & FITNESS for a couple of years and tried convincing him to give it a try but he was having no part of it.  When their personal trainer moved, they started coming to the studio for their weekly workouts and Mike agreed to try five Pilates classes and was hooked after just two sessions.

Here’s what Mike has to say about his Pilates journey:

Why did you start Pilates?

To be honest, because my wife was tired of hearing me complain about back pain. I didn’t think Pilates was the answer. I had tried massage therapy and medication. I was finally willing to try something new (Pilates) as long as my friends didn’t find out….lol

What other types of exercise do you do?

I’m an active guy with 3 kids and a dog. I’m constantly doing something, whether it is working outside, walking the dog, or playing with the family. Also, I go to b.PILATES & FITNESS twice a week, once for personal training and once for Pilates. I’m super happy with how I’m feeling now. I have more energy and feel stronger than I have in years. In fact, I am the same fighting weight as I was in high school, only with less hair.

How has Pilates helped you?

The back pain I complained about is long gone. I feel stronger and actually miss going to Pilates if I have to be away. I have found myself looking for Pilates studios when I’m on holidays so I can keep up with it.

Do you have a Pilates goal?

I have hit my first goal. I wanted to feel stronger and have no pain – CHECK. Now I love telling others with similar back/joint issues about what Pilates has done for me. Hopefully, I can convince a couple more men to turn to Pilates. Men are stubborn, myself included, but starting Pilates is a choice I will never regret.

What Pilates exercise or apparatus that you find most challenging?

Apparatus – Chair for sure! As for which exercise; it has to be ‘stomach massage’, it’s nothing like its name…stomach massage sounds nice, it should be called ‘the pretzel’ instead.

 

Your favourite Pilates exercise or apparatus?

I mentioned it as the most challenging but it’s also my favourite, the Chair is my favourite apparatus. The pike (Pull Ups) on the Chair is my favourite exercise. It is hard to get your mind around how to move your body that way, but once you figure it out and trust yourself, it’s a great exercise. I also enjoyed the entire ‘men’s class series’ as I felt we were working on true strength through Pilates.

I’m super grateful to have both Mike and his wife Francine as clients. They are always fun to coach, as they have little competitions with one another. Helping my clients feel stronger and happier with themselves makes me feel great! Hearing that clients are sharing this with their friends is a compliment to me as well as the Pilates Method. THANK YOU FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT! 

Contact Melissa Nagai at b.PILATES & FITNESS Pilates, Personal Training, Online Training, Workshops and More