I also really enjoyed how we took time at the beginning and end of every class to really check in with ourselves. I became accustom to automatically noticing any differences within my body and breathing that occurred after a full class. I also took your personal advice, Fritha, to carry with me the freedom of movement and real initiation of bodily awareness outside of class, and I found myself holding tension in my body of which I may not have otherwise been aware. For example, I’ve been told by physicians that because of my Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, I tend to my shoulders up a little to prevent any pain. It’s quite automatic for me, and though I know I do it, I really have been more aware of just how often I do it (and have come to realize that I do it quite often). I honestly believe that the principles learned from this class have increased my awareness in that regard.

All in all, I’m very satisfied with the course. I learned a lot, but I also really enjoyed our class time. I know I will frequent a Pilates class again in my future. J

With the actual movement, I learned a great deal. I became aware of what exercises moved and worked what specific muscles, and I really took notice of how small shifts in position can work our bodies in entirely different ways. I also learned that most Pilates exercises can be modified for more of a challenge or for very little challenge at all – which is great for how our bodies are doing on any given day. Spring in the City. For example, when I first came back to class after that horrible ER/gastroenteritis fiasco, I really didn’t have to sit out much; Pilates offers the opportunity to “take it easy” if need be. On the other hand, there were certainly times when I wanted to push myself, and I was able to do that as well. Regardless of whatever preferred level of intensity, all exercises were nonetheless still completed, and that is something that I’ve definitely thought about and appreciated during my time in this class.

I loved this class; I really did. I felt like every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, I was fortunate enough to have a time set aside to really be aware of the state of my body, where I was holding tension, and how I was breathing and moving. I really noticed, throughout the course of this class, how different each of these states was based on the simplest, most unsuspecting variables. These included how I was feeling that morning, the amount of sleep that I got the night prior, or even the weather outside. Granted, I’ve been aware of this in dance class, but I didn’t know it would be so pronounced (or even more so) in Pilates, too.

Conscious awareness of my breathing itself has also changed. As a dancer, I try to monitor this (especially when moving), but I feel that I’ve become a better at keeping an eye on it. In Pilates class, I focus more not only on how I’m breathing, but how often. I know for a fact that when holding certain positions in Pilates class (or dance class, too!), I hold my breath. It’s a horrible habit, but I honestly feel that because of this class, I find myself increasingly aware of this and try to relieve it whenever I notice it happening. On the other hand, I also feel that I’ve become more apt at examining my breathing without changing its natural course. In the beginning of class, when we take a few moments to examine our breath, I really notice what’s going on in my body without trying to change anything. Then, when we’re asked to breathe into/from certain parts of our body, I feel more and more like I can do it without a degree of force (if that makes sense J). It happens naturally; I’m just bringing awareness to those parts of the body.

This class (along with the article) has taught me that we breathe from many different places in our bodies, that from where and how often we breathe changes, and that all of this can occur without our awareness. For example, I’ve known for some time about breathing from the ribs and how it differs from breathing from the abdomen (I’m primarily a diaphragmatic breather myself) – but I never really thought about breathing into the back – something we practice in class. Also, the idea of the trunk represented as two cylinders, as presented in the article, is something I hadn’t thought about before, but I think it’s a great way to really imagine what takes place during inhalation and exhalation. I actually found myself breathing and trying to imagine the cylinders working with each other. It’s amazing that something so automatic yet so essential can seem so different with just a little acknowledgement.