I'll Take My Chances...

I noticed that one of my new, older Pilates students hadn't been back to class, When I saw her in the lobby, I asked her how she was doing and told her that I missed her. She complained that her back and hips hurt. Pilates is the single best way to strengthen back and hips. Urging her to come back and work on strengthening her back and hips, she said she wasn't coming back. When I reminded her that the less you exercise them, the more likely they will freeze up and hurt even more, she politely told me she would take her chances. Her words hung in the air. As we exchanged pleasant goodbyes, I felt stunned. What frame of mind would I have to be in to decide "to take my chances" on getting a frozen, painful back and hips if I knew I had options? Getting older and weaker is part of life but it doesn't mean we can afford the luxury of just sitting down (unless we want to make that chair our home). Even younger people face the same physical challenges as seniors: we are either building up or degenerating.

Helen Mirren is one of the most beautiful and fit women on the Red carpet today. Her body is unbelievable. I can't prove it but she looks "Pilates" strong and svelte to me. Her figure always amazes me. Wonder what she might look, feel, and move like if she had decided to take her chances and not care for her body? Frankly, it is so easy to give in to apathy when you get older. But some of that comes from feeling so physically poor that it starts to affect your mind. I've been there and, so help me God, I won't go back. It isn't as much about vanity but more about self-respect and honoring this God-given body.    I have no problem letting someone care for me if get sick or infirmed. Today I want to be in the solution, not the problem. I'll take my chances with Pilates. I've featured this YouTube video before but I'm putting it up here again to inspire us all to keep on taking good care of ourselves. Enjoy...

Here is a 100 year old woman talking about doing Pilates...
Here is the link in case the video doesn't come up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRP9ZEZ6IlE

Here she is actually doing Pilates:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jQZjEbt8_Y&feature=channel&list=UL