Solid Gold
Dreams, Pain, Realities, and Pilates
In my head during Zumba class, I transformed into Darcel Leonard Wynne. I had her great hair, lithe legs, and could move like magic as a Solid Gold Dancer.
In reality, I limped into most classes, have/had a lumbar herniated disc, an inflamed hip, and both my knees were in Amazon’s ‘best’ braces. If my body got worse, there would be no more magical mind vacations while I danced. I was great at cardio and hyper-flexible in yoga. Yet, nothing (ice, PT, medication) I did made things better.
However - I refused to give in to my pain and lose Zumba. I HAD to find a solution to the hip and back pain.
My beloved Zumba class of sixteen years! We started as Cooper Aerobics Center and finished as Craig Ranch Fitness. Wendy Pollard was our original teacher and angel. Now, loving led by Barret and Sonda at The Dance Movement
A friend recommended Pilates and I recoiled as if I sucker punched. “I’m not one of those gals.”
Truth #1: Intimidation. My pre-gastric-bypass-inner-fat girl distrusted thin people because I saw them as mean, exclusionary and judgmental. To me, the people inside the Pilates studio were thin unknowns, thus distrustful
Truth #2: I was a mean, judgmental, unknown person to myself.
For less expensive than a co-pay to my orthopedist, I gathered enough courage to try an introductory Pilates lesson with one of those thin Pilates teachers. As it turns out, she was highly trained (with a master’s degree!) and had more than 500+ training in Pilates. She was compassionate and patient - exactly what I needed.
Key things I learned in that first lesson. 1. Stretching wasn’t going to help me. 2. My body connections were nonexistent and led to hip instability.
As I think back to my first Pilates session, it was a seed planted and one of the reasons I became a Pilates teacher.
After a few sessions, I transferred to group Pilates classes once a week. Within eight weeks, my pain had been reduced significantly. I learned so much about my body as it was changing and getting stronger. I no longer limped or wore knee braces. My hips were (and are) still cranky from arthritis - but manageable. I moved from managing pain to moving and living life.
Pilates answered my unarticulated questions which was -
how can I feel better – about everything?
I’m search for a great Zumba class and new fitness friends in Midland, Texas. Whenever I visit DFW - everything is scheduled around my beloved Zumba class. I dance with utter abandon. Even though I live 300 miles away, I’ll never give them up - especially now that I know how to manage my pain.
Whenever I hear one of ‘our’ Zumba songs - my brain turns on. I’m a solid gold dancer, shaking my booty, in the middle of my kitchen in Midland, Texas.
Now, what do you need to feel better about?
Love, Hugs and Health
Bett
