Well, dolls, your girl is officially back on her fitness journey, and let me tell you, this first class just about took me OUT! Lol!
I recently had the pleasure of visiting JetSet Pilates, a new Pilates studio in my area, and I decided it was time to give this whole reformer Pilates thing another try!
Now, I’ve taken Pilates classes in the past, but between my busy schedule and the way some studios structured their class times, it became almost impossible to get in consistently. Eventually, I just gave up.
But when I discovered that JetSet Pilates had opened nearby and the classes weren’t completely booked, I thought, why not give it another shot?
After all, sometimes a fresh start is exactly what we need!
And dolls, I am definitely in my fresh-start era!
From Jazzercise to Pilates: My Fitness Journey Has Come Full Circle!
Here’s a little fun fact about me that some of you may not know.
Back in college, I was actually a fitness instructor!
Yes, ma’am! Your girl used to teach fitness classes, and I absolutely loved it!
And later on, I was into Jazzercise, too!
Now, who remembers those days? The upbeat music, the coordinated moves, the leg warmers, and all that fabulous energy!
Oh, what a time! Lol!
I’ve always enjoyed staying active and taking care of myself. Fitness has been a part of my life in one way or another for years.
But here’s the thing: as I’ve gotten older, my body doesn’t always cooperate the way it used to.
And if you’re a woman going through perimenopause or menopause, then you probably understand exactly what I’m talking about!
Some days, the energy just isn’t there.
The motivation might be there, but your body has a completely different agenda!
And that has been one of my biggest challenges lately.
Let’s Talk About Menopause and Those Unexpected Extra Pounds!
Okay, dolls, can we have a little girl talk?
Because this whole menopause journey has been something else!
Over the past few years or so, I’ve gained about 30 pounds, and honestly, it felt like the weight appeared out of nowhere!
One minute, I was feeling pretty comfortable in my body, and the next, I was looking in the mirror wondering what in the world happened!
The changes started during perimenopause, and it’s been frustrating trying to figure out how to manage them.
And can we talk about the stomach area?
I’ve had two children, and I’ve never really struggled with having a tummy. So seeing my midsection change has definitely been an adjustment.
My arms are another area I’d love to tone, along with building more muscle and improving my overall strength.
I understand that our bodies naturally change as we get older, and I’m learning to give myself a little grace along the way.
But I also know how I want to feel in my clothes and in my own skin.
I want to feel strong, healthy, confident, and comfortable again!
And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to work toward that.
Finding a Workout That Doesn’t Leave Me Feeling Defeated
One of the hardest parts of getting back into fitness has been finding an exercise routine that works for where I am right now.
I’ve tried walking, but sometimes my hips start aching.
I’ve tried taking dance classes, but the pace can be so fast that I struggle to keep up.
And dolls, that can be discouraging!
Especially when you remember a time when you could move, dance, and exercise without thinking twice about it.
It’s frustrating when your mind is ready to go, but your body is saying, “Girl, not today!” Lol!
There have definitely been moments when I’ve felt defeated and a little down about the whole process.
But I don’t want to give up on myself.
I want to find a way to stay active without feeling completely exhausted or overwhelmed every single time.
I’m not trying to compete with anyone.
I’m not trying to become a fitness influencer overnight.
I just want to feel like myself again, only stronger!
And that’s what led me back to Pilates.
What to Expect From a 50-Minute JetSet Pilates Class
JetSet Pilates offers a 50-minute reformer workout that combines Pilates principles with strength training.
The studio describes its approach as high-intensity, low-impact exercise using custom reformer machines, signature movement sequences, and carefully curated music playlists.
The goal is to challenge your muscles while offering a workout that can become part of a sustainable fitness routine.
Now, when I read that description, I thought it sounded pretty good!
Fifty minutes? Okay, I can do that!
Low impact? Even better!
Strength training and sculpting? Sign me up!
But let me tell you something.
Low impact does not mean easy!
Oh no, ma’am!
I learned that lesson very quickly! Lol!
The class was designed to keep us moving through different exercises while the instructor guided us through each position and movement.
And while everything looked so graceful and effortless when demonstrated, actually doing those movements was another story!
My First Class With Instructor Abby
My instructor for the day was Abby, and she was absolutely lovely!
She walked us through the exercises, explained the different positions, and called out instructions as we moved through the class.
I appreciated her guidance because there was a lot for me to learn.
The reformer machine, the movements, the transitions, and the pace were all pretty unfamiliar.
And dolls, I struggled!
I’m not even going to sugarcoat it!
There were moments when I was trying to figure out where my feet belonged, what my arms were supposed to be doing, and how everyone else seemed to know exactly what was happening! Lol!
The class moved quickly, and I definitely felt like the new girl trying to catch up.
But here’s something about me.
I’m a very visual learner.
If someone shows me how to do something, I can usually pick it up pretty quickly.
So I’m hoping that as I continue attending classes, the movements will become more familiar and I’ll start feeling more confident.
Right now, I’m learning a whole new way of exercising, and that’s okay!
Everyone has to start somewhere.
Reformer Pilates Kicked My Entire Butt!
Let me tell you, by the end of those 50 minutes, I knew I had worked out!
My goodness!
I went into the studio thinking this would be a nice little workout, and I left realizing I had seriously underestimated Pilates! Lol!
The movements may look small and controlled, but they can be incredibly challenging.
And while I wasn’t able to keep up with everything perfectly, I still felt proud of myself for showing up and giving it a try.
That’s something I want to focus on during this new chapter.
Not perfection.
Not keeping up with the person next to me.
Just showing up, learning, and doing what I can.
I also enjoyed meeting some of the other people in class and experiencing something new.
There’s something refreshing about stepping outside your comfort zone, even when it feels a little intimidating.
My Fitness Goals: Strength, Muscle Tone, and Feeling Good Again!
As I begin this new Pilates journey, I have a few personal goals in mind.
Of course, I’d love to work toward losing some of the weight I’ve gained during perimenopause.
But I also want to focus on building strength, improving my muscle tone, and feeling more comfortable moving my body.
My arms and stomach are two areas I’d especially love to work on.
I also want to improve my stamina and find a routine that doesn’t leave me dreading the next workout.
And I’m reminding myself that progress doesn’t have to happen overnight.
It took time for my body to change, and it’s going to take patience as I work toward my goals.
I know that Pilates isn’t some magical solution to menopause weight gain, but I’m hoping it can become one positive part of a healthier, more consistent lifestyle.
Most importantly, I want to build habits I can actually maintain.
I Signed Up for a JetSet Pilates Monthly Membership!
Now, here’s the part that really surprised me.
Even though that first class kicked my entire butt, I went ahead and signed up for a monthly membership!
Yes, dolls, I did! Lol!
I figured if I’m serious about making a change, I need to give myself a real opportunity to learn the exercises and get comfortable with the routine.
One class isn’t enough for me to decide whether Pilates is right for me.
So I’m going to keep showing up, take things at my own pace, and see how it goes.
I’m sure there will be some challenging days.
There may even be a few moments when I question why I signed up in the first place! Lol!
But I want to give this a fair chance.
And hopefully, a few months from now, I’ll look back at this first class and laugh at how confused I was on that reformer!
Tami’s Take: It’s Never Too Late to Start Again!
Dolls, one thing I’m learning during this season of my life is that getting older doesn’t mean we have to stop trying new things or working toward feeling our best.
Our bodies change.
Our energy levels change.
And sometimes the routines that worked beautifully for us years ago just don’t work the same way anymore.
That doesn’t mean we should give up.
It means we may need to find a different approach.
And that’s exactly what I’m trying to do.
I went from teaching fitness classes in college and enjoying Jazzercise to standing in a Pilates studio wondering how to work a reformer machine! Lol!
Life certainly has a funny way of bringing things full circle.
But instead of being embarrassed about struggling, I’m choosing to be proud of myself for trying.
I also want to remind other women navigating perimenopause, menopause, or simply getting older that we’re allowed to start over as many times as we need to.
We don’t have to look like we did at 25.
We don’t have to keep up with everyone else in the room.
And we certainly don’t have to punish ourselves to feel beautiful or worthy.
For me, this journey is about finding my strength again, embracing the body I have today, and working toward feeling healthier and more confident tomorrow.
And yes, I’d still love to get those extra pounds off! Lol!
But I’m going to take it one class, one movement, and one little victory at a time.
So wish me luck, dolls!
I’m officially giving JetSet Pilates another shot, and I’ll keep you posted on how my fitness journey unfolds.
Have you tried reformer Pilates? And if you’re going through menopause, what types of workouts have worked best for you?
I’d love to hear your experiences and encouragement!
The post My First JetSet Pilates Class: A Little Sweat, A Lot of Determination, and a New Fitness Journey! appeared first on Talking With Tami.
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