Pilates: The Delicate Version

I wanted to take a bit of time to share about my experiences with exercise videos. My freshmen year in college was my earliest exposure. I will never forget sitting on my bed eating Pizza Shuttle while simultaneously watching the Taebo video and my roommate Jenny punching the air.

This past year a friend of mine suggested we do Pilates one morning. Cool, I thought...since it is in the morning I can just wear typical exercise clothes...which I thought were old shorts and a big t-shirt you don't mind sweating in. That is what I wore, but my two friends were wearing ballerina outfits without the skirts. I looked so cool. The only way I can describe my experience is that while they did Pilates resembling ballerinas lying on their backs...toes pointing and "flat stomachs", my version looked like a controlled seizure. I was totally unable to watch the video, watch my legs, and figure where to roll on the floor. I did get a really good workout though.

Last week I was given another Pilates video that I have decided to attempt for one month. Tonight I simply watched it to get an idea. There were the ballerinas again, the token male, and one lady named "Dagney" that was demonstrating the delicate version. For example while everyone is pointing their feet straight into the air, the hostess would walk over and show poor Dagney with her feet barely off the ground. "She is still working out her powerhouse (stomach)". Even though Dagney can't do the one legged circle it is still effective for her to just lie there and move her toes in a circle. Dagney also demonstrates that if you are "especially delicate", which I am, you have permission to use a pillow, rarely lift your leg or arm, and pretty much just lie there while still being affirmed.

After watching the video I immediately went into the kitchen and ate a few oreos. I was exhausted. Beth said it look like I had been working out since my hair was all messed up and my face was tired. I cannot wait to see my newly sculpted body at the end of this process. I would like to give the charge for someone to invent an exercise video that doesn't use words like "powerhouse" or clap for the people lying on their floor in the living room.