Interview with SP — A former Dancer turned Pilates Practitioner
SP has been practicing at The Pilates Room NYC for about three years. She talks a bit about starting her Pilates journey, how The Pilates Room instructors adapt their methods to provide a holistic experience and how Pilates has changed her life.
How did you become interested in Pilates and how long have you been practicing?
I moved to New York about four years ago, and I started Pilates because I used to be a dancer, and I found that doing Pilates really brought me back to my body and connected me with my strength and my muscles and helped me maintain alignment, and it’s really changed my life.
Have you noticed any changes in your body after doing Pilates?
I do have arthritis—creaky joints, a lot of joint pain when I wake up—and I work at a job where I sit a lot during the day. I’ve noticed a huge difference (especially in the winter months) being able to live a much more comfortable life in my joints, and also in just feeling generally more confident.
What was there a Pilates apparatus that you resisted or found difficult when you first started practicing?
About two months in, Alison got me to start using the Chair. I was falling everywhere, and I looked at her and said, “There’s no chance! I’m never doing this again.” Fast forward to about a year in, and at that time—my strength had been developing more—and I went back to the chair, and I thought—okay. I can do this!
But not only that, it’s actually my favorite apparatus now. I love it!
Is there anything that you wish you had known before starting Pilates?
You don’t need to be walking out of a workout feeling exhausted for it to be beneficial. I was doing different variations of Pilates or spin or running, which I think all hold benefits, but in my mind, I felt like I needed to feel depleted for it to be a successful workout. With Pilates, I can go to work after a session, I can see friends, I can go to appointments, and I feel energized. I’ve always heard people talking about working out and saying “I feel so energized,” and I didn’t experience that until I started doing Pilates. I wish I had known that before starting Pilates because then, I wouldn’t have waited so long to actually start.
Can you describe what Alison is like as an instructor?
There’s a warmth to Alison, and when you work out with her, you’re not only getting access to this incredible expertise that she holds, but you’re also getting a fantastic connection and relationship. Obviously, I love the athletic component to Pilates, but getting to spend time with Alison—there’s so much humor and joy that I get. She’s one of my very close friends now, and I appreciate having her in my life, both as an instructor and someone I know that I can count on.
How is The Pilates Room different from other studios in terms of their approach to Classical Pilates vs Modern Pilates?
I grew up in the dance world, specifically ballet, and similar to Classical Pilates, there’s a particular technique and a right way of doing things, and I think oftentimes teachers or students fall into this mindset that you have to do things in a very particular way. I think the Pilates Room does a great job of maintaining the art that is Classical Pilates, and they’re also super adaptive. There have been times that I’ve come in where my neck hasn’t felt so good, or whatever it is that day, and there’s no pressure to follow this extremely methodical mold, and I think that just makes the experience more holistic and really catered to each client.
Do you have any advice for anyone thinking about trying Pilates?
If I had some advice to give to beginners it would be…be brave! Everything is a lot scarier sight unseen. Once you actually step into this environment and meet the people in the studio, that feeling kind of washes away. I was terrified my first session, Alison can tell you, I was shaking because I was so nervous. But just, be brave and push the boundaries a little bit. It's not going to hurt you to try it!
If you are interested in trying Pilates and are looking for one-on-one classes or group Pilates instruction, The Pilates Room NYC offers private and semi-private classes. Check out our offerings here.