October 10th is a very special day for me. One year ago, I went to my first Pilates class.
I had been suffering with computer-related repetitive strain injury and back problems for the past eight years and it was getting worse. I had already had to leave two great jobs because I couldn't use a computer all day. My pain kept me from doing everything I loved (blogging, editing photographs, building websites) or ate me up with guilt when I did those things, feeling it all getting worse and worse. Oh the guilt!
Having been told by various doctors that nothing was wrong, the last one I saw told me it was "chronic". From all-in-my-mind to chronic. That word killed me. I was only 35 and all I could see was a future of pain, becoming more and more hunched. Not being able to pursue the career I loved, that I had spent years building the skills for.
The last doctor I saw had printed out a sheet of Pilates exercises that I already knew I wasn't going to do. At home, by myself, every day. Then something clicked. I found classes in Leeds, a 5-minute walk from my home. I made an appointment. I bought a block of 30 classes (that I couldn't afford) and committed to finishing them. I've never looked back. I now do at least five classes a week (mostly reformer, some mat) and I am without pain for the first time since 2007.
Thank you to Equilibrium Health and to Mia, Kirstin and Sarah for literally saving my life.
Today is my Pilates-versary and I will be drinking pink Champagne.
