Don't Mess With Me...I know Pilates!

A Review of Club Pilates Idaho Falls

​"We've been quoting the movie Joe Somebody in my house for years, "Let's get it on. You and me. Been workin' out every day for the last eight years, amigo. Jazzercize, spinning, - Pilates, advanced Pilates."

I didn’t dream I’d ever be doing Pilates. Here’s what changed that.

A couple years ago I watched my sister-in-law start doing Reformer Pilates at a Club Pilates near where she lives in Washington. She has degenerative spine issues just like I do, and she was excited that it worked for her. She asked instructors for suggestions for ways to protect her neck and lower back, and was given them. The smooth, no impact, strengthening, worked well for her. We didn't have the option near my home in Idaho at the time.

After a visit with her again a couple months ago, and seeing how transformed she is physically as well as in confidence in her physical abilities, and how terrific she looks, I looked again for a Club Pilates when I got home. I found that there was now one in Ammon (Idaho Falls). I set up a free 1/2-hour introductory class on their website, and really liked it.

With degenerative spine issues, I know it is extra important for me to develop strength in muscles surrounding my spine, and that developing core strength is crucial to outcomes for me. I had tried physical therapy, and hurt so much that I couldn't do anything else. The pain increased instead of decreased over time. Rather than helping my spine issues, it seemed to flare them. The same seemed to be true of any exercise I tried. After the introductory class, I jumped in with both feet and started taking classes right away.

I've only been at this for six weeks, but I love it. I can't tell you how excited I am to be building core strength, arm and leg strength, improving balance, stretching and just all over getting stronger and getting moving. I had about given up hope that there was something that would work for me. I have significant arthritis as well as joint pain related to Sjogren's Syndrome. This is helping me with mobility and pain in a number of ways.

​I'm almost 60, and significantly overweight. I love that there are people of all shapes and sizes that this works for. There are some that come in with canes, and there are younger, fitter people that love it and find it challenging as well. A younger mom told me the other day that she's always been very active, but she'd never found anything she liked as much as this before. She said the variety makes it so she doesn't get bored, and the people are all so supportive. There's no doubt that you work your whole body during each class. I love the challenge and that I can do it at a level that works for me. It feels great to be taking care of myself by doing something so good for my body. I also like the relaxing aspect of Reformer Pilates; I think the cyclical breathing is good for my mental health as well as my physical health.