Why I Still Do Pilates

I’ve been doing Pilates for years, I teach it for a living, and I have a studio where I could roll out a mat whenever I want.

So why do I still make time to do Pilates?

It’s actually pretty simple. I like how it makes me feel. But after years of practising, I’ve realised there are plenty of reasons I keep coming back.

It gets me out of my head

Some days my brain is going in seventeen different directions, so when I start Pilates, I have to pay attention to:

My breathing.
My body.
The movement.
What I’m doing right now.

For that time, emails, schedules and the never-ending to-do list can wait. It’s a chance to be present and reconnect with myself.

And I always feel better for it!

It keeps me strong

This is an obvious one, but it’s an important one. I want to be strong enough to do the things I enjoy (like BJJ), but not just today, but as I get older.

Pilates gives me an opportunity to work on strength, mobility, balance, coordination and control. And because I’ve been doing it for so long, I can continue to challenge myself in different ways.

Sometimes that means tackling something difficult. Sometimes it means going back to basics and paying more attention to how I’m moving. Both have value.

It reminds me that I’m capable of more than I think

Even after years of Pilates, there are exercises that challenge me. There are days when something feels easy and days when exactly the same movement feels surprisingly difficult. That’s part of what I enjoy about it.

Progress isn’t always about doing something bigger or harder. Sometimes it’s finding better control. Sometimes it’s noticing a movement you couldn’t do comfortably before. Sometimes it’s simply showing up when you don’t feel like it.

That feeling of ‘Oh, I can do that!’ never really gets old.

It gives me energy

I know it sounds strange to say that exercise gives you energy when you’re actually using energy to exercise, but movement often leaves me feeling more awake and switched on rather than depleted.

That’s especially valuable when I have a full day ahead of me… teaching, working, running errands, walking the dogs, gardening, getting out and about…

I want my body to help me do all those things.

It keeps me connected to my body

I spend a lot of my working life helping other people understand their bodies. Pilates reminds me to do the same for myself.

How am I moving today?
Where am I feeling strong?
Where am I feeling restricted?
What needs a little more attention?

That awareness is something I value far beyond the Pilates studio.

It’s something I can keep adapting

One of the things I love about Pilates is that it doesn’t have to look exactly the same throughout your life… your body changes… your goals change… your fitness changes.

Sometimes you want to challenge yourself. Sometimes you need to modify things. Sometimes you’re recovering from an injury or simply having an off day. The movement can change with you. And I think that’s important.

Staying active for life doesn’t mean doing the same thing forever. It means finding ways to keep moving that work for the body you have now.

It gives me a sense of progress

I’m a goal-oriented person, I’ll admit it.

I like having something to work towards, whether that’s improving an exercise, building strength, learning something new or simply staying capable of doing the things I enjoy.

Pilates gives me lots of little opportunities to notice progress. And I’ve learned that those little wins matter. The big picture is built from them.

And yes, I enjoy it

This might actually be the most important reason. I genuinely enjoy moving!

I’ve spent much of my life dancing and exploring different forms of movement, and Pilates is one of the practices that has stayed with me… it’s challenging… it’s thoughtful… it’s physical.

And sometimes it’s just really satisfying to get on the mat and move. After all, if we’re going to keep doing something for years, shouldn’t we actually enjoy it?

The real reason I still do Pilates

It’s not because I own a Pilates studio. It’s not because I teach Pilates. And it’s definitely not because I think Pilates is some magical answer to everything.

I do it because I like how it makes me feel, I value what it gives my body, and I want to keep doing the things I love.

That’s the long game for me. Not chasing a perfect body. Not trying to stop getting older.

Just continuing to build the strength, mobility, awareness and confidence to do life well.

And that’s what I want for my clients too.