My Pilates WHY
Tammy Sachs, Team JOY
JOY Contributor: Tammy Sachs
A simple question, with an equally simple answer: It makes me feel good! No wait, it makes me feel great!! Practicing Pilates makes me feel both strong and flexible, energized and relaxed, and able to multitask while remaining centered. And possibly most importantly for me, after years of injuries and chronic back pain, Pilates was the one thing that has provided my body relief. Without Pilates, I had constant back aches and shots of pain from Scoliosis, bulging discs, and past sacrum sprains. But with Pilates, I have almost none of that. For me Pilates is not simply about toning and sculpting long lean muscles (which it is of course great for as well). For me it is about improving quality of life. And knowing that I am not alone in that need, to reduce pain, improve posture, and correct imbalances, is what drove me to become a Pilates instructor. I know first hand the dramatic difference it can make in people’s day to day lives, as it has with my own, and the opportunity to share that with other people and help them improve their lives in some way is what it’s all about for me.
Why should YOU do Pilates?
Pilates can benefit EVERYBODY! Whether you are recovering from an injury, have a bad back, are trying to get back into shape, need to unwind and loosen your body after a long work day, or even are an elite athlete wanting to improve your skills, Pilates has something to offer you. It can support you, stretch you, strengthen you, and challenge you, all at the same time, or separately if need be.
Why should you come to a Pilates studio instead of doing a video at home?
Not every class, exercise, and variation is appropriate for every person, however for every person there is an appropriate class, exercise, and variation. And as an instructor, part of my job is to not only guide you through the exercises, but to also help you find that appropriate and beneficial level to work at. Pilates is also all about nuances, and small often overlooked details can completely change the intent and effectiveness of an exercise. A live Pilates instructor can give you personalized corrections and cues, to ensure your workout is not only safe, but also maximally effective. A Pilates studio also has the benefit of offering Pilates apparatus such as Reformers on which to perform the exercises. These apparatus are specially designed to assist, work, and stretch your body in ways mat exercises, free weights, and traditional gym equipment simply can’t. The springs, pulleys, straps, and bars can all be adjusted and rearranged to accommodate your needs and challenge your body, while offering an enormous repertoire of exercises to keep your workout fresh, fun, and invigorating. Combine that with a variety of teachers, and different styles, and you too can reap all the amazing benefits that Pilates has to offer.