Pilates

I've been getting really into Pilates. Pilates is a strength training method that helps improve your core (stomach and related "middle" muscles) and other things too. I've only done mat classes because I'm a little too intimidated by the Reformer machine, but I'm in love. It takes an amazing amount of control - the picture above looks easy, but it's tough to ensure your hips are stacked on top of each other, your abs are pulled in tight, your butt is tucked in, your rib cage is lifted off the mat, and THEN doing the motion where you raise your top leg (don't move your hips!) and use your obliques to curl up.

Anyway I enjoy it. Apparently the founder Joseph Pilates said "You will feel better in 10 sessions, look better in 20 sessions, and have a completely new body in 30 sessions." I'm at 11 sessions right now, and it's true that I feel a lot better. Can't wait to get to that magic #30 and have a new body! Well, with my body, it's going to take longer than 30, but hopefully I'm well on my way.

I think for every 30 sessions I attend, I'll treat myself to a Reformer package. That's my motivation to keep going, and maybe it'll be a little extra boost to keep my form and try more advanced variations of the moves.