Monday, July 17, 2006

The Pilates Chamber of Torture

I mean, look at this thing:

But working on it wasn't really torture. In fact, it felt pretty good.

Peddling backwards, now...I've been fretting for a few months about the inevitable changes to la body de Veronique wrought by age and hormones. None of the things I did at the tender age of, let's say, twenty-four have been having an effect. Though I'm sure my cardio work helps my heart, it certainly hasn't been doing one gursh thing for gracefully distributing my weight into the right spots. And, just as bad, weight training has made me—already naturally broad-shouldered—even more so. This does nothing to create the pleasant sensation of feeling pretty, oh-so-pretty, oh-so-pretty, and witty, and gay. In fact, it has created the decidely unpleasant sensation of feeling dowdy, oh-so-dowdy, oh-so-dowdy, and frumpy and lame.

Which is how I wound up enlisting right-hand gal pal A. to join me for an introductory session at our neighborhood Pilates studio. The postural assessment alone was worth my time. I like the precision of movement required and the fact that you have to think the whole time. It's a little different from turning on the iPod and flipping through People while sweating on the elliptical trainer thingy. And of course I love the claim that—nature be damned!—I will end up long and lean. For my body structure, that is. We shall see. Anyways, it's no surprise that the trainer advised me to stop weight training (which shortens the muscles) altogether for now. Um, no problem...

5 comments:

Gura said...

is that like a padded torture device? Will that's what future people think this is when the records of society are lost? Or maybe it's a jungle gym.

I hear though that flexibility is good as you age, improves the quality of life.

ver said...

It is semi-draconian, isn't it?!! All I know is that the next day my abs 'n' arse were wondering what they had ever done to deserve such harsh treatment...

Rebecca Mabanglo-Mayor said...

So do you think the pilates studio experience is better than at home vids?

I've been wondering as there's a new studio opening up here too, but it looks /spendy/.

kmargrett said...

It really DOES look like a torture chamber! But kudos to you for using it! I probably would have gotten tangled and fell off the thing. ;)

ver said...

Hi Bec! Yeah, you have to get on the machines, and with a trainer. The mat stuff is...eh. It is super pricey, but give it a shot; you just might think it's worth it.

Hi krml. OMG, I wouldn't even have dared to perch on the end of it without someone there to tell me what to do! All the stuff is spring-loaded (or something?!). I guess I'll figure it out as I go along. Couldn't book another session until Saturday...