In my early twenties I travelled and drove a lot for work. Travelling around France and the UK, many times over a 1000 miles a week I would get bad hip and back pain from driving for so long. If I knew about Pilates then I could have done it in my hotel room and it would’ve really helped, but I didn’t.
I then got a desk job; I had lower back pain and tight shoulders. I joined a gym and did a Pilates class once a week. The teacher didn’t go much into why we were doing each movement and the benefits but I knew I felt better after class.
I got married and we moved to Hong Kong. While pregnant I did a Hypno-birthing course, it taught me how to focus my breath and mind. I really could hypnotise myself! Of course the birth didn’t go to plan and I had to have an emergency C-section. I did some breathing work classes to recover and knit back the abdominal muscles, I still have slight abdominal separation, but this does not stop me from doing any movement and I have two healthy boys so I’m happy with that. I wish I knew about pre-postnatal Pilates then!
After my second child I decided to do my teacher training in Pilates. I never thought of this as a career move, I had a baby gift business then. I did my Pilates training because as a travelling wife for my husband’s work I thought I could take it anywhere in the world and find clients.
When I started the teacher training is when I truly fell in love with Pilates. Before then I was just doing one class a week with no real thought into the movement. Once I delved deeper into understanding the movements and practising regularly I felt the difference in my body. I felt stronger, leaner and more mobile. It gave me confidence and it became part of my life.
Once I qualified I knew this is what I wanted to do for life now, no more desk work! I found my passion. I love guiding clients to understand Pilates, helping people move better and get stronger. We moved back to the UK and I knew the house we bought would need to have studio space. Kajoma Studio was full within two weeks of opening.
I guess what I’m saying is to find what you love doing and then it won’t feel like a chore, whether its work or working out. It’s what Joe Wicks goes on about that feeling you have once you have exercised. That energised happy feeling is me after I’ve done Pilates and my clients after they have done a class.
If you have never done Pilates but would like to give it a go there is a 50 minute beginners gentle video class you can gain access to by giving a donation to Marie Curie (only £1 minimum donation!). Go to www.kajoma.co.uk/charity
