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Aching muscles prove there's nothing girly about Pilates

By Mike Camunas, Times Staff Writer
In print: Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Times writer Mike Camunas feels the pain during a Pilates class at Breathe Pilates and Movement in Wesley Chapel. 
	[JANEL SCHROEDER-NORTON | Times]

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WESLEY CHAPEL

I was apprehensive. I'll admit it.

I walked into Breathe Pilates and Movement of Wesley Chapel, noticed I was on the only male in the room, and doubted myself as I was going to attempt Pilates — the hyped workout which seems to done only by socialites and Hollywood movie stars — for the first time.

Pilates, next to yoga (which I've already done) and salsa dancing (I guess that's next), seems to be a stereotypically women-only workout.

"I've always had about the same number of male clients as female ones," said Nikki Gray, owner and trainer at Breathe Pilates. "Then most of them are former athletes."

Gray said that men usually trying Pilates find the challenge of it invigorating — they are trying so hard not to fail and end up getting "addicted to it." What appeals to them: proving they can perform everything to a T.

"But they are really skeptical when they come in, thinking, 'This is a girl's workout,' " Gray said. "But they end up the ones who are the most dedicated later on."

Yep, that was me. With my out-of-shape body and cynical mind, I was weary. For one, there was a former dancer in my class that had more flexibility than Stretch Armstrong.

Then there's the photographer in my face, and Gray, who, bless her heart and knowledge, spouted off info and instructions faster than an auctioneer.

"Usually when people first come in, I say, 'Don't let your first class be your judgment,' " Gray said. "There is so much information that gets thrown at them in the first class — it can be overload. I try to get them to let it flow over their body and not get overwhelmed.

"It just takes practice because it is complicated."

That's good, I guess, considering I felt like I struggled. Pilates works deep core muscles, particularly in the chest and abs. I had an extremely hard time doing those "extreme crunches."

If I look in pain in the picture here, that's because I was.

"You did an awesome job — very good," Gray said. "However, it's very hard to come into Pilates when you're used to just working out, but it's cool because you rolled with it.

"It's all about getting to the deep muscles. We're not used to hitting those, however."

Ah, Nikki, you're really too kind.

However, the next day I felt every little thing I did in every single muscle that I have and even the ones I didn't know I had. That was the deep-muscle workout.

I couldn't put my arm around the passenger seat to back up my car without wincing in soreness.

"Oh, yeah, you're going to be sore," Gray said. "It's a different kind of sore, though. You'll be reaching for something and you'll be like 'Oh, where'd that come from?' "

You got that right, Nikki. Saying I was sore was an understatement, but strangely enough, I felt Pilates worked.

My body, a few days later, felt tighter and more fit than it had in a while, and when I stretched for my very next workout, it felt smooth, as though they were being warmed by a massaging hand.

And, then my muscles responded more. My aerobic workout was faster and extensive. I could actually feel my muscle endurance had improved.

I ran better, I biked longer and my back, which has been strained holding up my excess weight, didn't bother me at all. That's right — I'm just 25 and I have aches and pains I shouldn't be having.

My point is that this is what I get for being stereotypical, for writing something off and judging it because of something People or Cosmopolitan wrote.

Pilates can be for anyone, especially if I can do it, survive no less, and then praise it to the point where I'm trying to get more people to try it.

Not only will they laugh at their body, but thank it as well. Now, in just a couple of months, I look at yoga and Pilates in a different light.

"You have to think (in Pilates)," Gray said. "You can't come in and not be present. Some people work out and just zone out. You really have to focus with Pilates."

This really turned out to be my pain and my gain.

Reach Community Sports Editor Mike Camunas at (352) 544-1771 or mcamunas@sptimes.com.