” You have to get up every morning and tell yourself, YOU CAN DO THIS!”
Is it just me or as we get older, graduate college and start a career is it harder to find time for yourself? In this world, that’s so fast paced, it’s hard to take time for things that are good for us! In college I became a runner, not a 5K or marathon runner, but just a runner. I soon fell in love and pretty much ran at least 6 days a week, roughly 3-5 miles per day. At first, I dropped a lot of weight and was very pleased with my efforts. Running was a way for me to escape the next exam I was studying for and it really became my outlet of relaxation (this sounds crazy, I know). Have you ever heard about the, “runner’s high?” Well, I believe that’s what I got every time I ran and I really felt good, physically. Running got me through college, but when I graduated and started working getting up early to get my morning run in started to get monotonous and for lack of better words, boring. My “passion” was slowly but surely dying. About that time, my husband and I moved to Wake Forest, NC. One day, exploring Wake Forest, I discovered a small studio with machines that I had never seen before! Little did I know, this little studio and those machines would change my life! The small studio was, Pilates Barre Extreme.
It’s been two years now and I can’t get enough of Pilates Barre Extreme! They are located in the Wakefield Commons Shopping Center behind the Rex Wellness Center off of US-1. When you walk in, you will be greeted by an awesome instructor (they are all amazing, so you can’t go wrong with any of them)! I am an, ‘early bird,’ so I go to the 6am or 7am classes which are usually taught by Kristie Taylor (she’s soooo amazing). Kristie really tailors each session to each individual in the class, depending on his/her skill set! She is always challenging me and the rest of the class to plank a little longer, increase our weights or whatever it may be that she knows we are capable of; Thank You, Kristie for helping make me be the best version of myself! I have had all of the instructors and they are all super challenging in their own way, which I love! My view is, if I am going to pay to go workout, that it be challenging and I can see results! As I said, I was a runner for years and always thought I was pretty, ‘fit.’ Running, however, did not prepare me or my abs for what I was about to experience with Pilates! Pilates is a TOTAL body workout and it is one that is GREAT for lengthening the muscles! As a woman, I love strengthening my body by lengthening my muscles!
I was always convinced that either you had the body type for good arms and abs, or you didn’t! It seemed that no matter what I ate, didn’t eat, etc. I couldn’t achieve any definition in my abs! Pilates changed this completely! I love food and eating out, so I don’t have the 6-pack I always DREAMED of, but I will say I have more abdominal definition than I have ever had in my entire life! I can also say, that over the past two years I am stronger and feel better than I ever have with my body! I didn’t realize the benefits of working ALL aspects of my body and trying to work out on my own I never achieved the results I have with an instructor!
Losing weight was never my primary goal in starting Pilates, but I have lost roughly 10 pounds since I began! My weight doesn’t usually fluctuate too much, so for me to lose meant something! There are classes suited for any fitness level or desire! There are the beginner classes, endurance (for those who want a more intense workout), barre class (for more stretching and leg toning) as well as a cardio circuit class that gets your heart rate really pumping! I love them ALL! I have been to every class offered and love each one for varying reasons! Taking care of your body is just as important as taking care of your mind! We are only given one body and we should treat it well! What you can do today can improve all your tomorrows.
Create Balance, Feed Your Soul, Fuel Your Body, Expand Your Mind, Strengthen Yourself!
I’ve been wanting to try a barre class but I’m too scared to go!
You would LOVE it Hannah!!!! We should go together 🙂
I rеckon something genuinely special in this site.