Hey all, and happiest of Mondays!
I’m not a huge fan of Mondays, especially after an excellent weekend (Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ on Friday, so much fun and celebrations on Saturday and Sunday). If it has to be Monday, though, at least it can be a Monday featuring a delicious Fajita Salad!
Leftovers: A delicacy
I took the leftovers of my On the Border fajita meal and made a salad with all these goodies:
- Spinach base
- cheese
- salsa
- reheated Fajita fixins (onions, peppers, eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, and chicken)
- Tomato
It was fantastic. I chased it with a chocolate Vita Top with a bit of marshmallow fluff (trying to recreate a s’more flavor… decent).
But honestly…. that’s not the point of this post. This post is about Pilates. Before, I did a Play by Play of a Body Pump class. And I continue to do Body Pump because honestly, it’s a good time and I like it lots. I figure it’d be nice to give a play-by-play of a class that I truly and absolutely have no interest in taking again.
Pilates: A Play by Play Breakdown
I was super-pumped to try Pilates with some of my coworkers this past Saturday. I think, even more than the class, I was pumped to wear some of the clothes that look like what I saw all the Pilates kids doing at my gym. I did the best I could to model my outfit after all those Pi-ladies.
Long tank top, bright sports bra, form fitting leggings
I was rocking the Under Armour ‘Shatter’ Capris that I got at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, and they were SO comfortable. The picture doesn’t do them justice, I think, as it was placed on my table and self-timed…. but they rock.
Anyway, I got to the studio and it looked…. exactly like what I thought it would look like.
Soothing colors, random balls, carpet... the whole nine yards.
Before I knew it, the class was getting started. I chose a funky little tye-dye yoga mat, and was ready for whatever the instructor was bringing to the table.
LET'S DO IT!
I knew that it was going to be tough, though, when she mentioned that the free class was because she was trying out her first time teaching an advanced class.
Uh oh.
First, she talked about breathing. And then, demonstrated it. It truly sounds a lot like the breathing you’d hear in a Lamaze class (you know… hee hee hee, hoo hoo hoo, in and out). I tried my hardest to focus on this all class. You’ll see how that got me into trouble soon enough.
I’d done a few pilates-esque exercise classes in the past with AbSculpt, but this was different.
THIS was an "easy" move
I've seen swans in my life.... this is not what they look like.
We also did this one.... a bunch of times.
Lest we forget this little jewel.
Throughout it all, we were supposed to be thinking about our breathing, thinking about our abs, and considering other thoughts like where the sun was and pulling our bellybutton to our spine.
It was just too much for me to think about trying to get a workout. And honestly, I really don’t think I even got one.
My FR60 actually stopped working due to lack of sweat and too much moving around.
A few times, I felt light-headed because I was so busy focusing on my abs, I forgot my breathing, or vice versa.
Clearly, what this class proved was:
a) Pilates is not for me and
b) Be ready to multitask when taking this class!!
I am not bashing pilates by any means, and I think that some folks are totally meant for it…. Those long, lean, flexible folks get my respect. And maybe even a bit of my envy.
Go on with your bad self, Gwyneth!
In the meantime, though, I’ll keep my workouts fast paced with blaring music and the possibility of being kicked in the face or dropping a weight on my toe (Danger is my middle name.)
Except when it comes to these Pilates Torture Devices.... Then my middle name is "No Thank You."
NOTE: To check out the sweet source of my pilates pose images, or sexy Gwyneth, just click on the image… it’ll take you there!
Have you ever done pilates?
How about a workout that you thought you’d like and ended up not being fond of?
Food, Sweat, and Beers 
“soothing colors, random balls” ha!! so true. I agree with you wholeheartedly on pilates… not my coupa tea. I took the apparatus class and while it would be nice to compare with a mat class, I just don’t think it’s worth my time. Hey have you ever posted about your FR60? I love the little heart rate/screen shot pictures you put up and I’m clueless when it comes to those + garmins + other techy things people wear on their wrists…..
Aw, sorry you didn’t dig pilates, but you tried it and trying new things is good! I have those same capris and they make my tush look super fab.
I know, right?!
Wait, so Pilates is kind of like high energy Yoga?
Nope. It’s not really like yoga, IMHO, because there’s more continuous movement (or repetitive…. either way). But it is higher energy compared to yoga…. compared to anything else, though… lower.
Pretty sure pilates is not for me either!!
Why in the world did you take an advanced pilates class first? they make beginners classes for a reason, my friend..! 🙂 i also dislike pilates,though…yoga is WAY better!
I do have to agree that yoga is much better (and pretty much was a life changer for me in many ways)! I enjoyed this post….and that salad looks delicious! I will be copying it for my own lunch very soon. Take care!
Dude, it was a freebie class with my coworkers, I just went along for the ride. I certainly didn’t go in there expecting it to be advanced, as the flyer DID say “any level welcome!”
LIES!!
It was just the woman’s first night on the job, so freebie. Oh well, someday I’ll try it again. Someday. Just not soon, lol.
I am with you. I hate pilates. I came to this realization during a class when the instructor had us do that roll over move mentioned above in which our feet touch the floor above our heads and then “gracefully” roll back into a sitting position. Um no. There was no gracefullness in my movement. In fact, I was sore to the touch because I am a lot of woman and apparently not meant to roll my large booty above my head and then heave my legs back to the front. I like loud music and lots of sweating. I am sure my husband would like me to “pick up” a few moves, but then again I would like him to pick up Mario Lopez’s body. And I must admit, there are days in which those pilates bodies are envious, but then I think of the awkward positions and it goes away.
I love Pilates!!! I took it in college and fell in love. Not only did it help me with my lower back/sciatica pain, but I truly felt stronger and taller (I ate far too much at the dining hall to get leaner though!).
It truly isn’t for everyone though! I wasn’t a huge fan of yoga actually (I took that in college as well), but it has grown on me the more I try it. Maybe try Pilates again next year or something!
Well, I don’t need to be taller (at 6’1″) but would LOVE to be stronger!! My friend, who’s an instructor, just offered me a freebie class that she promises is a little more intense and sweat inducing, maybe I’ll give it a second chance!!
I didn’t love Pilates till I tried Reformer class instead of the matwork. The springs, miraculously, both make things more challenging and also help you. Now I go to class twice a week (3 times when I can afford it) as well as do homework with my circle and my frenemy the squishy ball.
(I do it in part b/c I live in fear of dropping that weight on my toe, but also because I findit so fun that I’ve stuck with that schedule for some years now.)
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