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Well, yesterday was my first Pilates class. Pilates is a series of movements focused on making the abdomen stronger and more flexible. With its emphasis on breath and posture, it's most often likened to yoga. It was a popular gym fad a couple of years ago, thought it's following seems to have declined. There are still many avid advocates to be found.
In my experience, Pilates felt like an interminable gym class where the only activity was sit ups. Now, that's not to say it wasn't effective. Indeed, my abdominal muscles screamed, panted, pleaded, and threatened to send my stomach contents across the room with a single focused heave. There were some movements that I don't believe I'll every be able to do. For some reason, that frustrated the hell out of me.
I believe that certain activities lend themselves to certain body types. I've done various martial arts, the only exercise I've ever really enjoyed, most of my life. I know I'll never do a roundhouse kick over my head, but an arm lock takedown is greatly aided my sumo-like physique. Happiness is finding a style the suits those things you can't change.
I think the reason for my frustration is due to my last exercise activity; iaijutsu. For some reason, I found Japanese sword to be absolutely enjoyable while totally exhausting. It had the curiously quality that as the sword got heavier, you started to learn new things. As you struggled with form, your body would find ways to do the work with minimal exertion. This loose, tired, practice often taught the best way to execute the form.
The sensei many times expressed surprise that I'd figured out some nuance on my own. Iaijutsu is one of the few martial forms that ever felt completely familiar to me. Like hairs raised on the back of neck, deja vu familiar. Now, from ancient Japanese tempered steel to giant modern pink plastic balls and exercise mats.
Pilates feels like every time I've struggled do something I have absolutely not aptitude for; not fun. Still, it does seem valid and effective. Every style I've ever learned, taiji, wing chun, boxing, muy thai, tai kuan do, akido, judo, etc. All those things, regardless of how suited I was to them, has taught me something. I know I'll get something new from Pilates; I just have to keep that in mind.
In my experience, Pilates felt like an interminable gym class where the only activity was sit ups. Now, that's not to say it wasn't effective. Indeed, my abdominal muscles screamed, panted, pleaded, and threatened to send my stomach contents across the room with a single focused heave. There were some movements that I don't believe I'll every be able to do. For some reason, that frustrated the hell out of me.
I believe that certain activities lend themselves to certain body types. I've done various martial arts, the only exercise I've ever really enjoyed, most of my life. I know I'll never do a roundhouse kick over my head, but an arm lock takedown is greatly aided my sumo-like physique. Happiness is finding a style the suits those things you can't change.
I think the reason for my frustration is due to my last exercise activity; iaijutsu. For some reason, I found Japanese sword to be absolutely enjoyable while totally exhausting. It had the curiously quality that as the sword got heavier, you started to learn new things. As you struggled with form, your body would find ways to do the work with minimal exertion. This loose, tired, practice often taught the best way to execute the form.
The sensei many times expressed surprise that I'd figured out some nuance on my own. Iaijutsu is one of the few martial forms that ever felt completely familiar to me. Like hairs raised on the back of neck, deja vu familiar. Now, from ancient Japanese tempered steel to giant modern pink plastic balls and exercise mats.
Pilates feels like every time I've struggled do something I have absolutely not aptitude for; not fun. Still, it does seem valid and effective. Every style I've ever learned, taiji, wing chun, boxing, muy thai, tai kuan do, akido, judo, etc. All those things, regardless of how suited I was to them, has taught me something. I know I'll get something new from Pilates; I just have to keep that in mind.