Connect to Your Fitness Purpose

WE WON’T BE DISTRACTED BY COMPARISON IF WE ARE CAPTIVATED BY PURPOSE

I shared the above statement on Instagram the other day, and it was very well received – especially by fellow Pilates teachers and trainers. When you can connect to your fitness purpose you’ll become more focused on your progress (rather than what you can’t do), be more consistent with your routine, and enjoy yourself more. 

Purpose is Unique

Everyone will have their own reason for working out, and even though there may be similarities, we’re never comparing apples to apples. Even two people who are training for the same marathon have different reasons for doing so. Yes, they both have the goal of crossing the finish line, but why? One might be running to raise money for a cause. Another is because they’ve worked their way up from completing 5km, 10km, and 21.1km races, and now they want to hit the next milestone. Then there may be the person on their hundredth marathon (though they’ve lost count), who is running because they need to for their mental health. From the outside, it can be easy to compare those three runners based on their time or stride, but when you see their purposes for running, all of that falls away. 

I get to learn a lot about my clients, but their fellow classmates don’t usually know the story of the person on the reformer beside them. I have one client who attends classes two or three times a week with me. It’s amazing to watch her move, and even her husband has commented how watching her do Pilates is like watching a performance. Other clients have confessed that they’d love to be as good as her, but can’t compare. What they don’t know is that Pilates is the only form of exercise she’s been able to do, as she’s had Rheumatoid Arthritis since her early 20’s. She’s connected to her fitness purpose and keeps coming because Pilates makes her feel and move better. 

I know it can be hard to remember that we are all on our own fitness journey, especially when the person next to you in class is super strong and bendy; but I want you to try. You don’t know their story, and they may have been practicing Pilates for ten years or more. None of that matters when you remember that the reason you’re in the studio is for you. 

What is Your Fitness Purpose? 

Purpose is one of the reasons I require all new clients to do three 1:1 introductory sessions before they can attend group sessions. These sessions are meant to help you get comfortable with the studio, the equipment, parking, me, the basic movements… and for me to get to know you and your fitness purpose. Why Pilates? What are you hoping to get out of it? 

When I started doing Pilates, my purpose was to have an hour a week to do something for myself. I love being a fitness instructor, but leading classes isn’t the same as doing an intentional workout. My daughters were six, four, and two, and my husband travelled and often worked long hours. I needed “me” time! Later, I found a purpose to strength train with a coach because I had overuse injuries from doing so many spin and aerobics classes. There was also the second purpose of wanting to get stronger for running and riding. 

When I look at my current and past clients, they’re all showing up to do Pilates for their own individual reasons. Some have been in car accidents, others have sore shoulders or feet from their jobs, and even others that started Pilates as a recommended therapy to help them heal from surgery. Many of these people continue with Pilates beyond their original purpose because they’ve found a new one: feeling good in their bodies. 

So – what’s your fitness purpose? What do you want to do or be better at? Whatever it is, I’m looking forward to helping you move and feel better in the year ahead. See you in 2022!