I was Pilates curious about a year and three months ago (hint: this is how long I've been with Era…read morePilates now), and was trying to decide which of the listed choices to try out. I was lucky that there was a manageable amount of options to choose from, and the reason why Era initially stood out to me was the individual and small capped class sizes. I remember when I first called, I was so nervous as I said I wasn't a "pilates" body. Mary, the owner, was the one who answered my call, and firmly told me everyone was welcomed to do pilates. I was still a little skeptical, but signed up for my first initial session and was paired with Hali. I remember being intimidated initially by all the apparatus, but Hali walked me through them with ease, but I also remember getting my butt thoroughly kicked by that session. As I enjoyed it, and wanted something physical to my routine, I told myself to give it six months before finding something else to do.
It's quite obvious that I love Pilates, seeing how I'm past a year doing this. I have had Hali as my private instructor this entire time, and have faithfully been seeing her on a weekly basis, unless vacations or holidays pop up. From the time I started to now, I know there's a huge difference, one of the biggest being that I no longer have lower back pain. I know my core is stronger since I constantly engage it, nearly automatically, when doing other physical tasks. When I first started, roll ups were something I struggled with, and now, I am able to articulate going back down and up. Every session is a challenge, but I always leave it feeling stronger and taller. I can even say from this latest lesson, I know I've grown.
Hali constantly pushes and challenges me, whether I want to or not. She does a great job breaking down what we are doing, to make sure I understand the what and the why. I also appreciate her hands-on approach to corrections and feedbacks, as it's the fastest way for me to understand and ensure that I align myself correctly. I had the opportunity to also take one of Valerie's group classes. While a different style, she was a great instructor providing verbal feedback and ensuring the class was a challenging one. I haven't had the opportunity to follow up with more classes with Valerie due to my schedule, but I hope to visit her sessions when I am able to. I love the vibes and space that Era provides and hope that I continue to practice with Era for a long time!