Joseph Pilates: Self Care = Progress

Joseph Pilates: quotes from a genius

"Were man to devote as much time and energy to himself as he has devoted to that which man has produced, what astounding and unbelievable progress would be made; a progress eclipsing all he has so far successfully accomplished..." Joseph Pilates

BALANCE.  Yes, even Mr. Pilates believed in the importance of finding balance in life.  He witnessed amongst his contemporaries a single-minded focus toward "success" that was defined by financial and material gain. I wonder what he would think of today's society. 

I know far too well how easy it is to slip into what I call "survival mode"; when you lose yourself to work and forget about the importance of play.  We tend to associate play with kids.  Adults work to maintain a roof overhead and food on the table.  But there's so much more to life.  There's so much out there to enjoy!  This is re-confirmed for me every single time I decide to step away from the computer or out of the Pilates studio and meet a friend for coffee.  Or when I decide to go see a live performance.  Or when I talk a walk around Lake Balboa with my dog.  Or when I go on a date with my husband.  Or when I take a fitness/movement class completely unrelated to Pilates.  Or when I go to the Korean Spa and soak in the baths. 

I find that when I take time out for myself, I have much greater joy in my life.  My relationships thrive, I'm more creative, inspired, driven, focused and light-hearted.  My smile even feels more genuine.  Not to mention, I'm a better wife, friend, dog-owner, business-owner, manager, Pilates instructor etc. Perhaps this is the "progress" Mr. Pilates spoke of... BALANCE.

Comments

[Madeleine Butcher]

The balance that comes from Pilates work serves us not not only in our daily lives, but when things go wrong - the balance we work towards guides us with our every movement.

So, I was recently hiking with my husband up in Mendocino County and was having a blast walking swiftly from stone to stone across a very shallow stream. I used to be the champ of this in my youth and was thinking of those days (I'm about to turn sixty - yikes!) when my foot slipped out from under me and I went flying up and then landed with the full force of my body weight on my lateral femur (thigh bone) and I thought to myself, this is the end of life as I know it.

Though I almost passed out from the pain, it was clear nothing was broken. Within moments I was standing and able to walk away (soaked & shaking like a leaf!) but upright and BALANCED.

I applied RICE (except no compression) and the next day there was the beginning of a nasty bruise, but nothing else hurt. Nothing! Nothing was out of alignment, no muscles were sore, I felt no trauma elsewhere in my body.

I was totally amazed at the deep strength and BALANCE that come from my Pilates practice.