How I Found Pilates

Every January 1, we have a tradition of making vision boards for the year ahead. This year, I knew I wanted to work out more, get stronger, and continue focusing on my health, so I put a Pilates image on my board. And it wasn't a tiny little image tucked in the corner. It was pretty big, so I saw it all the time.

At that point, I really didn't have much Pilates experience. I had taken one Barre class and one Pilates studio workout in Prescott, Arizona, with Nicole Baltes, Studio Owner and Certified Pilates & GYROTONIC Instructor at Core Pilates Prescott. I had also bought a mobile Pilates wheel online and used it a little, but that wasn't really anything like being in a class or working on a reformer. So honestly, I wasn't exactly sure why Pilates had made such a big appearance on my vision board. I just knew I was drawn to it.

Then in June, I got a message that a Pilates studio was opening about five minutes from my house. I was immediately excited, but also nervous. Then I found out they were looking for instructors. I remember telling my accountability group that I was going to apply. Part of me was really excited by the idea, and another part of me immediately started questioning everything.

Could I really do this? I wasn't as fit as I wanted to be yet. Would people judge me? Did I even look like someone who should be teaching Pilates? I have extra skin from having bariatric sleeve surgery years ago, and I'm not ready for skin removal surgery yet. I even worried that my stomach would get in the way of some of the movements. I lovingly call it my "front butt," so yes, these are the kinds of thoughts that were running through my head.

But then I started thinking about my own life and everything my body has been through. I was a United States Marine. I know what it feels like to be incredibly fit and strong. I also know what it feels like to become very sick, to gain weight, to lose confidence in your body, and to have to work your way back. I've been on both sides of that experience, and I think that's part of why I understand so many different people.

When I think about future students, I don't picture one age, one fitness level, or one body type. I think about the person who is nervous to walk into the studio. I think about the person who has gained weight, the person starting over, the athlete, the beginner, the person recovering from illness, and the person who doesn't think they have a "Pilates body." I get you. All of you.

So instead of overthinking the instructor part, I joined the studio's unlimited monthly membership and started taking classes. I went to a few and absolutely loved them. Then I took more. And more. Pretty soon I decided I wanted to set a goal for myself: 100 hours of Pilates by December 2026.

In late July, I became certified in Barre Above. And as of today, in the middle of September, I have completed 48 Pilates classes since July 9. I am almost halfway to my 100-hour goal in just over two months, which honestly makes me laugh a little because I originally thought 100 hours sounded like such a huge goal.

Now I can't seem to get enough of it.

Then about a week ago, I received an email asking if I would be interested in teaching some Barre Above and Human Reformer classes, even if I started out as a substitute.

I said yes.

Of course, my brain immediately went back into question mode. I know I need to practice my cueing. It's one thing to do the movements yourself. It's another thing to move, watch the room, explain what people should be doing, remember the sequence, and make sure everyone is safe all at the same time. But that part is just practice. I can practice.

My husband and I are also certifying in Human Reformer this weekend, on September 21, so apparently this Pilates thing has become a family adventure too.

And now I'm even considering doing traditional Pilates teacher training at a studio in Boulder, Colorado, with a teaching lineage that traces back two generations to Joseph Pilates himself. The more I learn, the more I want to learn. I want to understand the method, not just memorize movements. I want to have my own Pilates practice. I want to keep being the student while I learn how to become a better instructor.

It's funny to think that this all started with a picture on a vision board in January.

At the time, I didn't know what it meant. I didn't know that a studio would open five minutes from my house. I didn't know I would take almost 50 classes in a couple of months. I didn't know I would get certified in Barre Above, train in Human Reformer, or even seriously start thinking about becoming a Pilates instructor.

I just knew something about that picture kept calling to me.

Sometimes I think we get so caught up in needing to know exactly how something is going to work before we start. We want to feel ready first. We want to lose the weight first, get stronger first, know more first, or feel more confident first.

I definitely wasn't completely ready.

I just started.

So if there is something you have been wanting to try and you're thinking you're too old, too out of shape, too inexperienced, too nervous, or your body doesn't look the way you think it should, maybe you don't need to have it all figured out yet.

Maybe you just need to take the first class.

That's what I did.

And 48 classes later, I'm still saying the same thing.

Yes. Yes. YES!

Keep on moving,

Michele "Shel" Sokoloff
Barre Foot Pilates