Transcription

• Speaker #0

  Okay, so today we're going to kind of dive into something I think a lot of us are dealing with, you know, in our modern lives, and that is that discomfort that we feel. Right. And that not so great posture that can come from, you know, sitting so much.

• Speaker #1

  Absolutely, yeah.

• Speaker #0

  And we've got this really interesting story that one of our listeners sent to us. Yeah. A personal story.

• Speaker #1

  Yeah, this is a great one.

• Speaker #0

  That we think a lot of you will relate to. For sure. It's a testimonial from Marie, who's a 34-year-old marketing consultant. and her experience with Stott Pilates. Right. And the title of this piece is How Stop Pilates Transformed My Posture and My Health.

• Speaker #1

  Oh, very interesting.

• Speaker #0

  So I think when you think about just how much time so many of us spend sitting hunched over a computer screen, you know, I think that her challenges are going to sound really familiar to a lot of you.

• Speaker #1

  Oh, I'm sure. Yeah.

• Speaker #0

  So what we want to do in this deep dive is really unpack Marie's journey with Stott Pilates. Okay. What was she dealing with? How did she discover this method? And what were the specific changes she noticed? Gotcha. So we're kind of sifting through all of this to see if there are any valuable insights in here for you.

• Speaker #1

  Love it. So to kind of set the scene, Marie really paints this vivid picture of her initial situation. Yeah. As a marketing consultant, you know, her work life involved a lot of sitting.

• Speaker #0

  Yeah, and she's very clear about the persistent pain that she was experiencing in her lower back and shoulders. Right. It wasn't just like a mild annoyance. Right. It was really like a constant presence.

• Speaker #1

  A constant thing, yeah.

• Speaker #0

  And alongside that, she also started to notice her posture deteriorating. Ah. So that slouching and that forward head posture, you know, that's become.

• Speaker #1

  Oh, yeah. So common these days.

• Speaker #0

  So common these days. Have you experienced that at all?

• Speaker #1

  Oh, yeah. For sure. Okay. Especially with, you know. Yeah. Being on the computer and phone and everything.

• Speaker #0

  Exactly. It's tough. So all and it wasn't just limited to her back and shoulders either She also mentions these frequent headaches She was getting and she thought that they were probably connected to that tension that was building up in her neck and shoulder sure I mean that's and it really highlights how the body functions as this like interconnected system.

• Speaker #1

  Absolutely Yeah,

• Speaker #0

  so it sounds like she was trying to be proactive, you know in trying to find some relief. She mentions trying those like quick stretches at your desk, getting the occasional massage, even some yoga sessions. Sure. But the relief she got was always very short-lived. Right. It was like she was addressing the symptom, but not the root cause.

• Speaker #1

  Exactly. Yeah. Just putting a bandaid on it.

• Speaker #0

  Right. And that led to some, you know, understandable frustration. My back. And concern about her long-term well-being. Right. That feeling of like being stuck in this cycle of pain. Yeah. And worry that it might get worse. You know, that can be a huge motivator to try to find a more sustainable solution.

• Speaker #1

  Absolutely. Yeah.

• Speaker #0

  So that brings us to the turning point of discovery of Stop Pilates. All right. And what's interesting is that it wasn't through like a medical professional or an advertisement or anything like that. It was actually a positive recommendation from a colleague.

• Speaker #1

  Wow. It's amazing how like it's amazing. A personal story or recommendation can really make a difference. Like if they've had success, maybe I can, too.

• Speaker #0

  For sure. And what her colleague shared is really crucial here. OK. They emphasized that Pilates. focuses on strengthening the deep core muscles. Okay. And that network of muscles, you know, that's around your abdomen and spine. And how that strengthening can really contribute to better posture and less pain.

• Speaker #1

  Makes sense.

• Speaker #0

  And that whole emphasis on the core being the body's powerhouse is like a fundamental principle of Pilates. So it makes total sense that a strong, engaged core acts like this natural support system for your spine. Sure, sure. Helps to keep that proper alignment. Right. So Marie, feeling hopeful, decided to try an introductory class at Studio Biopilots. Okay. Yeah, it takes courage to try something new. It does,

• Speaker #1

  especially when...

• Speaker #0

  Especially when you're in discomfort.

• Speaker #1

  You're already dealing with pain. Yeah.

• Speaker #0

  Yeah, for sure. So her description of that initial session is really interesting. All right. She immediately noticed the emphasis on breath work. Okay. And postural alignment. Yeah. And these are aspects of movement that we don't always consciously engage with. Right. In our everyday lives, especially if we're sitting a lot.

• Speaker #1

  Yeah. We kind of just forget about it. Yeah. Kind of slouching there.

• Speaker #0

  Yeah, exactly.

• Speaker #1

  Thinking about it.

• Speaker #0

  And she mentions her instructor, Caroline Berger de Femynie. Right. And how important she was in, you know, explaining the movements, providing active corrections to Marie's posture. So that individualized attention from a qualified instructor seems so important.

• Speaker #1

  It is. Yeah. Especially when you're first starting out. Yeah. You know, you want to make sure you're doing everything right. Totally. Just don't hurt yourself.

• Speaker #0

  And Marie realized that she didn't have conscious control over those deep core muscles. Right. And she realized that she was breathing really shallowly. Right. Which I think is something that a lot of people experience.

• Speaker #1

  Oh yeah, for sure.

• Speaker #0

  Especially if they're sitting for a long period.

• Speaker #1

  Yeah, if you're sitting all day, you're not really thinking about taking these big deep breaths.

• Speaker #0

  Yeah. And we develop these inefficient movement patterns. Yes, we do. Without even realizing it. So it sounds like that initial awareness was a real eye opener for her. Yeah. So what happened after those first few classes? When did she start to see some results?

• Speaker #1

  So she started noticing some pretty significant improvements. Okay. After just a few weeks of consistent practice. Okay. Around two to three sessions a week. Okay. So that consistency seems to be key. Okay. You got to keep it up. Gotcha. It's not a one and done thing.

• Speaker #0

  Yeah. So what were some of those physical improvements?

• Speaker #1

  Okay. So she says her back pain started to lessen. Okay. And she felt stronger and more stable.

• Speaker #0

  Gotcha.

• Speaker #1

  Which makes sense. You know. Right. Those core muscles are getting engaged.

• Speaker #0

  Right. And her posture started to improve as well.

• Speaker #1

  Yes. Her posture got way better. Okay. She was standing taller. Her shoulders were relaxed. Wow. Pretty big change from someone who was constantly slouching before.

• Speaker #0

  That's great. So what about those headaches?

• Speaker #1

  Oh, yeah. The head,

• Speaker #0

  it was experiencing,

• Speaker #1

  you said they pretty much disappeared. Wow. Like almost completely gone.

• Speaker #0

  That's huge.

• Speaker #1

  Yeah. Huge improvement. Yeah. And it just shows how everything's connected. You know, the breathing exercises, less tension in her neck and shoulders probably all contributed to those headaches going away. That's amazing. It is. It's a great example of how when you address one area of the body, it can have these positive effects elsewhere.

• Speaker #0

  Wow. That's so interesting. It is. So it sounds like. for her, Pilates was more than just a way to like fix her physical issues.

• Speaker #1

  Yeah. It was a total transformation. Yeah. Like mind and body. Yeah. It became a time for her to really focus on her breathing and to connect with her body, you know, in our visit lives. Right. It's so important to have those moments where you can just slow down, pay attention to what's going on inside.

• Speaker #0

  And she was able to kind of develop this increased body awareness and manage her stress better.

• Speaker #1

  Much better. Yeah.

• Speaker #0

  That mind-body connection seems to have been really positive for her.

• Speaker #1

  It was really transformative.

• Speaker #0

  And it even impacted her work life in a positive way. Really? She said she was able to concentrate better.

• Speaker #1

  Wow.

• Speaker #0

  And she felt more productive.

• Speaker #1

  That's great.

• Speaker #0

  Yeah. I mean, when you feel better, physically and mentally, it's going to have an impact on other areas of your life. Absolutely. And it sounds like these changes are lasting.

• Speaker #1

  They are. Yeah.

• Speaker #0

  She mentions that after a year of regular practice, Uh-huh. The positive changes have continued.

• Speaker #1

  That's what you want, right?

• Speaker #0

  That's what you want.

• Speaker #1

  Long-term benefits.

• Speaker #0

  Not just a temporary fix.

• Speaker #1

  Not a quick fix. Right. It's a lifestyle change.

• Speaker #0

  So her posture has continued to improve. Yeah. And she's no longer dealing with those aches and pains.

• Speaker #1

  That's fantastic.

• Speaker #0

  That's amazing. It is. And she feels stronger and more confident in her body.

• Speaker #1

  Good for her, yeah.

• Speaker #0

  It's great. And I love that she's incorporated some of these Pilates principles into her daily routine. Yeah. Even outside of her classes. That's great. So she'll take these little moments to do some stretching and some focused breathing just to help her refocus and relax. I love that. Yeah, it really shows that she's integrated this practice into my life. Yeah. It's a tool that she can use to manage her well-being. So drawing from her positive experience, she has some advice for others who might be facing similar challenges.

• Speaker #1

  All right, what does she say?

• Speaker #0

  So maybe you're dealing with chronic pain. Okay. Poor posture. Uh-huh. Stress. Right. What are her key recommendations?

• Speaker #1

  So first, she highly recommends trying Stott Pilates. Okay. And she specifically mentions the reformer. Okay. Which is this piece of equipment that uses springs for resistance and assistance. Okay. During the exercises. Gotcha. And she says it's really good for learning proper alignment. Okay. And engaging those deep core muscles. Gotcha. And she says the method is both gentle and effective.

• Speaker #0

  Okay.

• Speaker #1

  So it's good for people of all different fitness levels.

• Speaker #0

  So you don't have to be like a super athlete.

• Speaker #1

  No, not at all. To do that.

• Speaker #0

  Okay,

• Speaker #1

  good. And she also recommends starting gradually. Okay. And finding a certified instructor. Right. Just like she did. Yeah. So you know you're doing things right.

• Speaker #0

  So important to have that guidance.

• Speaker #1

  It is, especially at the beginning. Yeah. You don't want to get injured. Right. You want to make sure you're doing the movements correctly.

• Speaker #0

  So find a good instructor.

• Speaker #1

  Yes.

• Speaker #0

  And she also says that it's well worth it.

• Speaker #1

  Well, she would know, right?

• Speaker #0

  She would know.

• Speaker #1

  She had such great results.

• Speaker #0

  Exactly. In her conclusion, she describes Pilates as a revelation. Wow. I mean, that's a powerful word. It is. And it really shows how much of an impact this had on her life. Totally. And she goes on to reiterate those key benefits. Okay. Regaining a healthy posture, getting relief from those aches and pains. Right. And just an overall improvement in her well-being.

• Speaker #1

  Sounds pretty amazing.

• Speaker #0

  Yeah. And those are the things that so many people are looking for.

• Speaker #1

  Yeah, I think so.

• Speaker #0

  And she even says that other people might be surprised at the positive changes they experience.

• Speaker #1

  Right. You never know until you try it.

• Speaker #0

  Exactly.

• Speaker #1

  You might be amazed by the results.

• Speaker #0

  And for any listeners who happen to be in Paris or the Ile-de-France region, she specifically recommends taking classes with Caroline Berger at Femini.

• Speaker #1

  All right.

• Speaker #0

  So that personal endorsement is a really nice piece of advice. It is. So let's kind of sum all this up. Right. What are the main takeaways from Marie's experience?

• Speaker #1

  So the big takeaway is that she had this incredible transformation. Yeah. Going from chronic. pain and poor posture to significant improvement, all thanks to Stop Pilates. And it wasn't a quick fix. It was a process. She had to work at it, but the results were worth it.

• Speaker #0

  And the specific benefits she experienced are really compelling. They are. Less pain in her back and shoulders, better posture, fewer headaches, more energy, better stress management, overall greater sense of well-being.

• Speaker #1

  It's amazing how everything's connected. It is. you know, your physical health, your mental health. It all plays a role.

• Speaker #0

  Yeah, it really does. And I've heard from other people how like addressing your posture can have these surprising knock-on effects on things like headaches. Absolutely. It's fascinating. So her advice is also really important. It is. She emphasizes that Stop Pilates is accessible to people of all fitness levels.

• Speaker #1

  You don't have to be a pro.

• Speaker #0

  Yeah, you don't have to be in perfect shape to start doing this. Not at all. And she says it's important to start slow. Yes. And find a good instructor.

• Speaker #1

  Absolutely. Someone who knows what they're doing. Yes.

• Speaker #0

  Who can guide you. Yep. And help you tailor the exercises to your needs.

• Speaker #1

  Your specific needs. Yeah. Right. Really important.

• Speaker #0

  So as we conclude this deep dive into Marie's experience, it leaves us with a final question for you, our listener.

• Speaker #1

  Okay.

• Speaker #0

  So, you know, given the challenges of our modern, often sedentary lifestyles.

• Speaker #1

  Yeah. We sit a lot.

• Speaker #0

  We do. Yeah. And, you know, we see how much of an impact incorporating this mindful movement practice had for Marie. Uh-huh. Could this be something that would be valuable for you to explore?

• Speaker #1

  That's a really good question.

• Speaker #0

  To address your own physical and mental well-being.

• Speaker #1

  Yeah. I think it's worth considering.

• Speaker #0

  It definitely sounds like it opened up a new path for her.

• Speaker #1

  It did, for sure. Yeah. Good for you, too. Yeah. I never know.