For most of my life I have avoided any type of exercise unless I was trying to lose weight. After my husband passed away I really lost focus on myself. I was adrift and did not care about myself in any way. It took a trip to Curaçao in 2017 where I found myself severely dehydrated and afraid that I was having a heart attack that I realized I needed to pay attention.
This moment scared me into thinking about how I wanted to move forward. It’s funny how things pop up when you are starting to search for something. At the moment I started thinking about fitness options I came across a Club Pilates announcement regarding the opening of their West New York location. They offered a free introduction class; I took the class and was hooked. From 2018 to when the pandemic started I was a Pilates going enthusiast. Four times a week, I was there even if I had a night out prior I would make sure I was in class the next morning. With all this exercise in my life I felt amazing, my mind was clear, and I was energetic, all great additions to my life. When the pandemic hit, and I was not able to go to the studio I discovered that working out from home just wasn’t for me. I just could not adjust to exercising at home. So from 2020 to the fall of 2022 I was basically deskbound. Late October of 2022 Club Pilates opened a location in Jersey City and I was back to my old schedule.
What did I learn in the break? I learned that finding an exercise option that invigorates you is important. It’s central to living a vibrant and confident life! My classes make my body strong and when I walk down the street I feel good and I am not worried about falling or being achy after a short walk.
I also found that when I exercise I’m much more alert and present during the day. Missing exercise during the pandemic made me realize the positive impact it made in my life. Moving forward I’ve made a vow to incorporate exercise in my life in any way possible. This means if I can’t make a Pilates class then I must actively find an alternative. Exercise is so much more than a mechanism to lose weight it brings a confidence and awareness of our entire being that opens us up to larger possibilities.
-Shelly
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