Building a Strong Foundation to Move

I just finished a seated Pilates class.

Why is this such a ground breaking statement?

Because moving has been a bitch lately (and that’s me saying it nicely).

How did I get here?

The Setback

Let’s go back in time three months to the end of October, my strength training and walking routines went out the window due to numerous health problems coupled with an excessive amount of stress related to attempting to obtain the treatment for said health problems.

With MS I have become accustomed to curveballs and needing to shift my movement practice in return, but this was too much of a change; too fast.

All of a sudden my tried and true activities would leave me sore and feeling sick for a day or two after.  It felt like my mind and my muscles were living on different planets. My head was clouded with emotions and I could not for the life of me figure out how to alter my movement practice to fit my current capacity.

I was at a standstill. The lapse in moving regularly hit my ailing body hard. My muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance tanked. And let’s not even talk about how sketchy things got mentally and emotionally because without a regular movement practice I am known to turn into a very feisty Sicilian firecracker aka reallllll bitchy.

I longed for a way to move and connect with my body again, but that seemed like eons away from my current state. My muscles felt like jello, weak and floppy. My body was heavy like concrete. Even if my brain does send signals to my muscles successfully, they are unstable, which means that I have to think, like reallllllyyyyy think about it every time I move. This makes movement SO much harder physically AND zaps you mentally too.

For example, grabbing a cup, I am consciously thinking…

‘pick up arm’

‘reach arm out’

‘ok there is the cup’

‘now close your fingers around it’

‘whoops too much’

‘loosen a bit’

‘ok keep the grip in your hand and lift up’

‘good, now keep it level as you lift your leg to take a step’

‘ plant your foot on the ground’

‘ok, good, now lift the other leg up to take a step’

‘whoa, make sure you keep the cup level’

Like WHEWWWW it’s no surprise fatigue is an issue right?!?!

MOTIVATION

When you are knee deep in thickkkkkk grief, and are having trouble holding a cup level while walking, it is really hard, if not near impossible to want to workout.

Forget the workout…what I actually want is to feel more connected to my body, have more body awareness, and re-establish trust in my self.

My foundation was shaken. The anger, sadness and hopelessness of my current sitch was overwhelming me.

But, unfortunately wishing and hoping only take you so far ;) In order to get what I want I had to get out of my own way. I had to grieve the change and accept my current capacity. And, I had to pair acceptance with action, because taking mindful + intentional action is how I can rebuild my health.

STARTING TO MOVE AGAIN

Since there is such an obvious disconnect between my mind and my muscles, slow, controlled and intentional movement is ideal. Because, the best way to strengthen the neural pathways between your mind and your muscles is by concentrating on how your muscles engage as you move through an exercise. This reinforces that mind-muscle connection and builds a strong foundation, which is exactly what I (and so many of us) need to move effectively throughout the day.

Enter DK and Movement Remedies…

It was indeed her amazing Seated Pilates Class that I just finished before writing this.

I met DK through the Chronic Boss Collective. Her movement philosophy is on point. Her studio, Movement Remedies, is all about accessible Pilates that will leave you feeling good. It’s designed to help you move safely in the face of chronic pain and to feel empowered while doing it.

DK lives with chronic pain and is no stranger to not feeling confident moving in their body. She gets it.

Movement Remedies (and DK) is based in Edinburgh, BUT class is virtual so I (and you!) can reap the benefits of moving with intention anywhere in the world. Class takes place on Mondays at 1pm est and is 12 GBP or about $15 depending on the day. :)

Why was class so great?

First - Class is 40 minutes and full of slow, controlled, focused movement that requires minimal equipment (a chair and light weights or 2 cans or water bottles). Let me tell you something about a 40 minute time frame…it’s literally perfect, not too long or too short. DK even has a blog about it here.

Second - DK is an empowering breath of fresh air and her cues ensure that my form is on point (or as on point as possible for a baby deer like myself). Her style is rooted in science and is full of empathy and compassion (a win - win - win if you ask me).

Third - DK makes it accessible by giving a variety of options and throws in great one-liners throughout class to remind you that it’s not a competition and help you feel empowered along YOUR journey. And, the focus on mindful movement keeps ya plenty busy for the class to fly by.

Fourth - It was a welcome challenge. If you think seated = easy, you are wrong. You can choose options to amp up your class, or not. It’s all up to you. Either way, the environment is chill and paired with encouragement from DK.

After Class

After class I felt a solid sense of accomplishment knowing that I reached my goal of moving intentionally today. And, I am feeling a hell of a lot more empowered to continue to show up for my self ( and my movement practice) tomorrow.

Moving intentionally is challenging work that can be extremely rewarding with consistent practice and I’m excited to see where this road leads, even if there are some twists and turns along the way.

One thing is for sure, I am officially hooked and I have a strong feeling that Seated Pilates on Mondays at 1pm will be part of my weekly routine.

WBU? Wanna join?

If you’re looking to add intentional movement to your weekly schedule DK’s seated Pilates is it.

Sign up here if you want a designated time to move together - c’mon let’s be #accountabilibuddies!