Testimonials

by Kristina Milionta, Actress and Excel Apprentice

I have a love affair with my powerhouse. I constantly check on how it's doing and revel in every moment of soreness it goes through. In fact, my sore muscles often remind me to engage them more outside the studio and away from the apparatus and mat. The mere action of sitting down has become an art, remembering through my day to support the natural curve of my spine, drawing my shoulder blades down, and not using superfluous movement to maneuver myself into a chair.

I started Pilates in July of 2001, hearing about it from a co-worker who is also an actress like myself. She seemed so in love with it that I figured I'd go through the Beginning course and see if I liked it. I was doubtful before I started, since I don't enjoy most forms of body sculpting and conditioning, but started thinking of the mat classes as "my time," a part of the day where it was just about me and my communication with my body. After a class, I began to notice my muscles felt energized and awake, and tried to keep them that way until the next mat class. Soon, little indentations began to form in my stomach where my abdominal muscles were growing in strength, my legs started to slim, and I noticed that I was shopping for smaller sizes in everything.

When I came home for Christmas to parents who hadn't seen me since the following April, their jaws dropped. I had toned up, and had a zest and energy about exercising that contained dedication and the willingness to push myself to my physical limits. I even hope to trace my father's footsteps in a few years by climbing Mount Denali in my home state of Alaska - an adventure that requires extreme endurance and strength, as well as immense mental concentration.

Since becoming an apprentice in September, I've learned that everything up to this point has been a preparation - there will never be a moment where I feel that I know everything there is to know about Pilates. And that's my favorite part. There will always be a challenge, always be a reward, and always be more to demand of myself.

I continue to be hopelessly addicted. I can't stop. I look at living options and grad schools based off the location of studios. My view of life has changed. I look forward to more things and feel that I can tackle difficult obstacles, physical or mental, much more fluidly. I am always amazed at how much more there is to learn, and look forward to striving toward that knowledge of my body and myself.

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