HONESTLY…WHY IS PILATES SO HARD?
Let me start by saying this: I was never the "fitness girl." Working out? Painful. Sweaty. Horrible. Why would anyone willingly sign up for that torture? Yet, there I was during the first lockdown, a woman on the brink of losing her mind, and probably like everyone else during COVID, I felt like I was beginning to morph into my couch. My skin matched my IKEA sofa, a chic gray color really went well with the bags under my eyes. Jokes aside, I needed something—anything—to make me feel less like a blob and more like a person.
Spoiler alert: it was Pilates. The only reason why it was Pilates, was because the studio was 37 seconds away from my apartment.
My first session? A disaster. I’m not exaggerating when I say my body felt like a floppy fish out of water. Breathing correctly? Impossible. Core engagement? What is core? But… something clicked. By the end of the session, I felt something new: the tiniest flicker of hope that I wasn’t entirely beyond saving. And that hope turned into true love. (rom-com worthy plot, I know!)
Fast forward nearly five years, and Pilates has not only transformed my body but also my mind. It taught me things I never thought I needed to learn. First, how to love my body—not because it looks "perfect" (it doesn’t and probably never will), but because it’s strong. Pilates helped me discover muscles I didn’t know existed. Second, it taught me how to breathe. I mean actually breathe—not the shallow kind, but the deep, intentional kind that makes you feel alive.
And then there’s the philosophy of Joseph Pilates himself. "Contrology," he called it. It’s not just about fitness; it’s about controlling your mind, body, and spirit. I experienced it, and believed it so much that I enrolled in Pilates teacher training. The woman who once rolled her eyes at anything fitness related is now a certified Pilates instructor, I still kind of can’t believe it. For the past year, I’ve been teaching others what I’ve learned, and honestly, I hope it takes me even further in this direction.
But let’s get back to the real question: Why is Pilates so hard? Because it demands more than just strength or cardio stamina. It requires focus. Precision. Patience. You can’t fake your way through it. Pilates will humble you, even if you’re someone who’s spent years working out in other disciplines. It’s not just about looking good in leggings (though let’s be real, that’s a nice perk), it’s about understanding how your body works and moving with intention. This is the key! My POV as an instructor also changed the way I look at Pilates, because I watch beautiful women of all ages making progress in my sessions, and that is why I know this method works. It will always be hard because every session is different, challenging, & focuses on something else.
And yes, it’s still hard. Five years in, I still have days where I’m dripping with sweat, cursing Mr.Pilates under my breath. But those moments pass, and with every new session I see a progress in my body & mind. Because for every challenging session, there’s a moment of triumph. So, why is Pilates so hard? Because it forces you to confront yourself—your weaknesses, your insecurities, your bad habits. It’s not a quick fix, it’s a long journey. And while the pain is real, so is the payoff. Pilates is hard because life is hard, and even when it seems easy, trust me, it most definitely isn’t.
Honestly, if someone like me, a former exercise hater, can fall in love with Pilates, anyone can. Just be prepared to sweat, shake, and maybe cry a little (especially if your instructor takes out THE CIRCLE).
But honestly, it’ll change your life.
