Joseph Pilates Quote of the Week:

Joseph Pilates Quote of the Week:

"The art of contrology proves that the only real guide to your true age lies not in years or how you THINK you feel but as you ACTUALLY are as infallibly indicated by the degree of natural and normal flexibility enjoyed by your spine throughout life." ~Return to Life Through Contrology

Sunday, June 5, 2011

"Get up and go... Just do it."

Have you ever been concerned that you are too old to try a new form of exercise?  I'm often so proud of the people that come in to my class as they are no longer, well, teenagers. Most teenagers, unless they are dancers, probably don't see the need for Pilates just yet.  They often have naturally firm and strong cores, not having yet had metabolism changes, pregnancies, injuries, or just plain gravity fighting against them.  So, in walks a "middle aged" man or woman, having never taken a Pilates class, let alone knowing what one entails, to experience his or her first Hundred or Saw.  To have that kind of courage inspires me. 



If you have two minutes, watch this short video by Ari Cohen of a 99-year-old woman, Ruth Kobin, who is studying Pilates.  She started practicing it at age 91, so if you feel you're too old to start something new, ditch that thought!  Ruth has a lot of great advice in this short interview such as "I use what's good for me [regarding exercise].  In fact I've learned what's good for my body.  If you listen to your body, it'll tell you."  "...and if I stretch and exercise, I feel a lot better.  So it boils down to keeping active."  "So often I have to push myself.  Just say 'Ruth, get up and go... Just do it.'"

Ari has more of Ruth's life and style advice written out at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ari-cohen/life-and-style-advice-fro_b_870690.html.  Besides nixing the blue jeans, I think these are some quality points to ponder! Try something new soon (like Pilates *wink*wink*) and don't waste your energy feeling self-conscious because everyone's focusing too much on themselves to care what you're doing.  Hey, ballet-girl here got herself into a Zumba class and had a great time.  

I hope you've found this extraordinary woman as encouraging as I have regarding her views on exercise!  I haven't yet had someone her age take one of my classes, but to see people walk in to class in January and plug through class, maybe with a bit of frustration, and finish up the session in June feeling like a pro, is truly a thrill.  You can do it, too!  Get up and go... Just do it!

4 comments:

  1. Wow...she's such an inspiration!

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  2. She's actually my great grandmother and it's Ruth Kobin, not Cohen :)

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  3. Thank you so much! What an amazing woman.

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  4. I made the change. I appreciate you letting me know.

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