Yes, you can do Pilates

Yesterday, I was approached by a friend who told me that she wasn’t sure if she was welcome in my Pilates studio. 

When I dug a little deeper to understand why she felt that Pilates may not be a good fit for her, she mentioned that she had been made to feel unwelcomed in other spaces previously, and therefore felt that my space may not be welcoming as well. 

My heart hurt for her. Here was a young woman with a recent PCOS diagnosis who told me that her hips were really tight and bothering her, and that she wanted to make herself a priority and feel better. She had been told that Pilates or Yoga would be a great form of movement for her, but she had been made to feel that she didn’t belong. 

This is a problem I hear, and see, all too often. 

Until I had found Ignite and Teran, I too had felt out of place in other studios/gyms in my large body; however, I knew that I loved to move my body. What I finally learned from my classes with Teran, and the Pilates system, was that any BODY can do whatever movement they enjoy the most–what it takes is the right teacher to help them determine what space is best to move in. I am so fortunate that I found such a space to move in, and I strive to make my own space welcoming. 

At Felicia Jane Pilates, my motto is that movement is for EVERY body–regardless of your age, race, gender, or size. As a movement guide, I feel that it is my duty to help you, my clients, understand your body, learn from your body and love your body. I happen to use Pilates to do this; however, this could be done with any modality. You just need to find the right person to learn that from. 

I’d also like to say that more often than not, my clients are the ones who help me improve how I teach Pilates. I listen to what their aches/pains and needs are to help them move better or reach their goals–that may not be about losing weight or running a marathon, but about improving their balance, walking up/down the stairs with both legs, having more confidence in a crowded room, or playing with their grandchildren on the floor. 

Your movement practice is not about what I think is best; it’s about what you think/feel/want. Period. 

I invite you to learn with and from me. You belong.