I walked into my first Pilates class and thought, “How hard could this be?”, but five minutes in, I was shaking like a leaf, while the Instructor calmly said, “Engage your core”.
My core had definitely taken the day off.
Outside the studio in Cheltenham, the rain tapped against the window and gentle music played in the background with a calming candle burning in the corner, creating an almost meditative atmosphere.
Everyone around me looked completely relaxed and locked in, except for me, who was wondering what I’m in for.
The moves looked so simple – or so I thought. The instructor demonstrated each one with effortless control, lifting her legs as if gravity simply didn’t apply to her. Then it was my turn, and I resembled a giraffe on ice; all wobbling limbs, shaky balance, and a growing sheen of sweat across my forehead.
As I moved through poses, I became painfully aware that I was one misstep away from toppling over in front of a room full of composed, middle-aged women who made the whole thing look impossibly graceful.
While they moved like elegant swans, I was doing everything I could to stay upright and impress these mothers.
Finally making it to the end, I felt like a new woman. I felt unexpectedly great and my posture was better. I walked out with this odd sense of being taller, stronger, and more put together than when I arrived.
Then I checked the prices.
I tried to hold in my gasp.
I look away as I tap my phone on the card reader, and mouth to my friend Ellie, ‘I don’t think we will be coming back’.
In hindsight, I would have either broken my back or my bank account, so maybe it’s for the best.
Now, I’m at home on a yoga mat, trying to remember what ‘neutral spine’ means, and convincing myself that YouTube Pilates is basically the same thing.
