I'm still soaring from my pilates class last night. My body and mind disconnected from everything but the pulleys and bars I was pushing and pulling, to the point that when my very patient teacher deeAnn said go up and then right, I went down and then left. Repeatedly. At the end I was so "blissed out" that I could barely form words to schedule our next session or slip on my shoes to glide home. Yesiree Bob, pilates is for me!

I haven't asked a lot of questions about what pilates will do to my body in the long-term, or what exercises she recommends that I do at the gym now that she understands all my aches and pains, but I will.

I'm sore on my right side (my bad side), which I think came from being stretched out a little too far at the end of the session, so I'll mention that next time. Many of the exercises actually involve rotating the legs inward (therefore making everything tighter), which is perfect for me since my hypermobility often causes me to be too loose and rotate outward. My right leg is definitely scared and weak compared to my left, but deeAnn is great at seeing that and giving me extra support and encouragement about it.

I have a habit of holding my breath, so it's always a surprise when I realize I need to inhale and exhale while working out. If I were a better breather, I might have an easier time during my sessions remembering that in pilates, your strength comes from the tightening of your abs, which deeAnn says upon exhaling to tighten like I'm zipping up a pair of jeans. I've taken that simile to heart outside the pilates studio though, and I think of it when I'm walking and sitting.

Hopefully zipping up my abs like a pair of jeans will allow me entree into a new pair of them when I set forth this weekend yet again on a jeans expedition!