Pilates provides me with a miniscule time during the day or evening to forget about the pressures of life. A time when I get to focus on me and what's needed to get through each sequence of exercises. I know that when I'm doing Pilates, I will only be thinking about doing Pilates. Aside from the physical aspects, getting that heart rate going, stretching, etc. Pilates is about breathing - I mean really breathing and making it count for something!
I think I keep coming to Pilates because it challenges me. Certainly watching a dancer perform Pilates is something to behold, but not necessarily something to aspire to on that level. But, I personally can aspire to work at my level to the best of my ability and still feel a sense of accomplishment. This is one of the unique things about Pilates. When friends ask you to explain what it is and what motivates you to keep going for over two years, or will it help me, it is very difficult to explain. Personally I believe that's because you can't stand in another person's shoes and know what about Pilates might appeal or not appeal to them. For me it's the movements that I can't perform that keep me trying. The movement possibilities are endless in Pilates and thus you always have something to inspire you to attain a new goal.
In closing I'd like to add that I have made some wonderful, I believe, lifelong friends since coming to Excel and for that I feel especially blessed. But I cannot end without mentioning that I have read a couple rather amusing articles stating that when you do Pilates you don't sweat! Who are these people? Trust me - this is NOT A TRUE STATEMENT - those folks must have had their sweat glands removed or something!
