This Pilates lark is thirsty work
Today I went for my fourth TenPilates class, this time with Andrew, who taught my first class. Since then I’ve had a muscle-burningly brutal class with Gavin, and a head-to-toe turbo toning session with Georgia. I’m loving the variety of going to different classes with different instructors, as they each tailor their sessions in slightly different ways - so I’m endlessly challenging my body.
Today’s class started with the now familiar leg stretches, with one foot in the Pilates ring, the other slowly pushing the reformer carriage back and forward. Cue hamstring, quadricep and hip burning, followed by oh-so welcome stretches that seem to go deeper than any stretch I’ve known before taking up Pilates. Then, as Rihanna kicked in on the stereo, the real workout began. First up, an ab circuit - and with three classes under my belt I’m well versed at getting my spine neutral and switching on my abdominals (impressive, huh?). Laying on the reformer we put our legs in table top position before working through a series of tummy toning moves that gradually work our muscles harder and deeper. After a quick (but effective) hip stretch we moved on to working our postural muscles, to beat that swivel chair slouch. Again, after just a handful of classes I’m reacquainting myself with a whole host of muscles I’ve left laying dormant for years; consciously engaging the muscles under my armpits and between my shoulder blades that will roll my shoulders back and ease all that office tension.
Posture realigned, my glutes could wait no more. If they started out weak (they did - head of Physio, Cheyne told me in no uncertain terms) I’m pretty sure they must be getting stronger because every session I’ve been to at TenPilates works them until they’re quivering, aching and burning. So much so that I’m convinced if you could only see my eyes you’d think I was having a root canal without anaesthetic (dramatic, me?). And to make matters worse, after three classes, I now know exactly what’s coming. Today didn’t disappoint, leg presses, side clams and the bridge (all with added resistance thanks to the various springs and straps involved) set those glutes muscles a-burning.
Side planks whipped our obliques into shape, and turbo charged tricep dips firmed up dreaded bingo wings, then we worked our hamstrings, glutes and calves by getting into a shoulder bridge and pushing against the resistance of the carriage. Throughout the full-body obliteration Andrew carefully explained how we should perfect our form, and made adjustments when we got it wrong. Encouraging and positive, even when my glutes were crying out for mercy he managed to convince me to push on through the pain barrier. Even now, sat at my desk I can feel that dull ache in my glutes that can mean only one thing - I’m one step closer to getting back to running. Actually two things, I will get back to running and I’m going to have the perkiest bum on the beach come my holiday next month!
Read my journey to running fit:
Blog one: Can I get back to running - and bikini ready?
Blog two: It's a massage, but not as I know it
Blog three: Laura vs Reformer, round one
Blog four: Feel the (glute) burn
Blog five: 'I'm just going to dig my elbow in there'
