Club Pilates
“I am not someone who has ever loved to exercise. I have a disability, and over my 50 years, I have lived in a body that has ranged from a size 3XL to my current size Small. I have had surgeries, taken medications, and tried just about every diet fad along the way.
But today, I can say something I am genuinely proud of: I am the strongest I have ever been in my life.
A big part of that is Club Pilates.
I go to Club Pilates two to three times a week, and it has become so much more than exercise for me. It is one of the ways I de-stress, but more importantly, it is a place where I have learned how to move my body safely and confidently.
Having a disability means that not every movement works for me. The instructors at Club Pilates have been wonderful about helping me understand what I can do, how I can modify movements when I need to, and how I can continue to challenge myself safely. They know me, they know my body and its limitations, and they genuinely want me to succeed. I see them give that same care and attention to every single person who walks through the door, and I am so grateful to have finally found a place where I feel like I belong.
And then there are the people. There is a real sense of family at our studio. We notice when someone isn't there. We celebrate each other's progress. We laugh together, encourage one another, and genuinely enjoy being together. That sense of community is a huge part of what keeps me coming back.
I have spent much of my life thinking about what my body can't do. Club Pilates has helped me focus on what it can do—and how much stronger it can become.
For someone who has never considered herself an “exercise person,” finding a place where I feel stronger, safer, supported, and like I belong has been pretty life-changing.”
