By Kelly
This year, I’m doing one resolution a month to challenge myself, and I finished February’s early: Get certified in POP Pilates®, and teach my first class.
Well, I got certified on Jan. 17 and taught my first, in-person class on Jan. 30, so I’m ahead. But it’s been a long time coming.
I’ve done Pilates for 23 years, and POP Pilates® since 2009, when Cassey Ho founded this spin on classic Pilates that has 3 cardio tracks, 2 flexibility tracks, 1 balance track and 9 other tracks that work every major muscle in your body in 55 minutes—all to pop music.
In college, I was in the best shape of my life because I did Pilates every day.
Then, in 2007, I started my first full-time job, and over the next 15 years, daily slipped to weekly.
Sure, I’ve been running 6 to 9 miles a week since 2002 (when I got into running), so I wasn’t being lazy. My gym only offers one Pilates class a week outside work hours (10 a.m. Saturday) which is often too early for me. (I missed it today, in fact, when I intended to go). Or I’m out of town or doing something else, because Saturdays are not ideal. And I did Cassey Ho’s hundreds of free workouts on YouTube daily for a long time, but missed the structure and comradery of a live class. So when I didn’t make it to that Saturday class last year, my Pilates dose slipped to every other week and even monthly! This meant I wasn’t working my muscles or stretching enough, so I wasn’t hitting my fitness goals. (Running is great, but it’s just cardio. You need strengthening and flexibility, too.)
So I came up with the plan to get certified in POP Pilates® and teach an in-person class once a week (at a convenient, non-Saturday time). Because if I had to teach a class, I’d have to practice daily to not look stupid.
So far, my plan is working. I’ve done POP Pilates® almost every day since Jan. 17. And I’m still running 6 miles a week. If I’m not able to hit my fitness goals doing that, I don’t know what it’ll take.
So if you’re having trouble motivating yourself to work out, try getting certified in something. (I highly recommend joining the POP Army!) If others look to you for a weekly workout, you’ll shape up fast. (In theory. I’ll let you know how it goes.)