Testimonials

Ellen Carroll - Dancer, Yoga Instructor, and Arts Administrator - June 2002

I found Pilates in college at Ohio University in the dance building where I spent numerous hours perfecting my art. I would often gaze at the seniors and think how "cool" they were, since they were allowed to go in that room at the end of the hall with those strange machines. The door was always closed and it made me wonder "What are they doing in there?"

Longing to be that "cool," I began with a mat class in the spring of my freshman year. I immediately realized that although I danced every day for eight hours, I was not very strong. I used my thighs for many movements rather than my core, and had a natural exaggerated curve in my lumbar spine. Through this mat class, I became more aware of connections in my body and I felt more supported in my dancing and I translated that into walking down the street and walking up those gigantic hills around campus.

Even though I loved Pilates from my first set of hundreds, the last thing I wanted to do was work out when I was exerting so much physical energy dancing, but I stayed faithful. Throughout the four years I upped my "cool" status and I lengthened the time I spent in the dance building by working in the Pilates studio. It was Pilates that kept me strong over the summers and got me through those long rehearsals. It allowed me to get that leg up with ease and it was the only thing that really warmed me up before a performance. I discovered that side kicks were the secret to having a good ballet class, and when dancing on fatigue and adrenalin, one has no choice but to use that core-scoop scoop!

After 6 months off of Pilates (since graduation) all I could do was laugh at myself during my first one-on-one session. My strength is slowly coming back, but I promise myself I'll never let that happen again. I find it rejuvenating and challenging as ever. I find that it helps me in my personal yoga practice and in teaching yoga, especially in those back bends. I feel light and strong. What could be a better investment than a healthy and mobile body, so I can lie to be practicing yoga at 104?

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