Me and Pilates; Pilates and I
I’m exploring pilates. I‘ve heard about it for years but dismissed it as a faddish 90's workout. To be effective, Pilates requires concentration and ability to multi-task. Breathing correctly is important; inhale deeply through the nose, exhale gently thru soft lips. Huh? For me, breathing is multi-tasking. Not only do I forget to breath, but I hold my breath until I almost pass out. My initial introduction was pre Portugal, pre Corona. I checked into the YWCA, found the Pilates studio. The instructor was a model-thin woman, a single line of sweat dripping down her radiant cheek. Great. I hated the place already. I could not quite believe I was handing over $ to exercise. I am a reasonable person. I live near a walking trail. I own a pair of sneakers. Why not just put them on and go walking? My instructor took me to the “Reformer”, a long, low, bedlike apparatus with a flat, padded carriage that slid back and forth the length of the bed. It made a dentist's ch