Something New

The heat has clearly gotten to me -- I chose tonight, while more of New England is a sauna -- to try Pilates.

And I must be suffering from heat stroke because . . . .I liked it. Don't get me wrong, it's been 90 minutes since class finished, and all ready most of the muscles from my belly button down are starting to voice their displeasure, which by morning -- or 2:11 a.m. which is the time I seem to be waking up each morning just to, well, check the time, as it seems -- will be an all out primal scream.

I think I liked it because the Fitness Guru said many of her clients have said this truly has changed the shape of their bodies. So let's get to molding . . .

Susan Lucci makes it look so easy on those early info-mercials for the Malibu Pilates Chair, but not so. I mean, she's a smidge of a human being, but I give her credit, this stuff is HARD. When I mean hard, I mean actually TRY sitting up straight, only to realize that you are a human "c". (Or for the optimist think: "Man, I've really got this yoga cat pose down pat -- sitting, standing. Just forget the fact it should be done on your knees as a stretch, not a permanent posture. . . .)And that you look like a turtle when you raise your arms and your shoulders swallow your ears. Given my struggle with the basics, this may be a long road, but since I can't trade in this body, I can at least do what I can to shape it.

Just as kickboxing was not impossible, this will be difficult at first, and each class will get easier. It is possible, I've seen it done. (Then again, I seen David Copperfield levitate his assistants, and I still don't believe that . . . )

Speaking of levitating, just try lying down on your side and lifting both your legs off the floor, without moving anything from your hips up. And repeat it. And soon you will begin to appreciate the value of -- and the victory in -- a millimeter.