Day 1 - So here I am...

on the verge of taking my first step toward what one could only describe as - a Pilates Bootcamp. For the next 20 or so days, i'd be devoting a single hour, everyday, without fail, rain or shine, to a good solid workout at The Pilates Place.

What is this Pilates Place, you may ask? (whilst furrowing your brow suspiciously) None other than the entreprenuerial whim of my long-time buddy - Jacqueline Lee. Well, not exactly a whim since she's ONLY successfully had a hand in establishing 2 gyms in Taiwan, a sporting apparel business and now a pilates studio, i mean pilates place. Whatever... you know what i mean.

Imagine me. In my daily office kit, looking up a flight of fairly steep stairs stretching 3 storeys upward. The camera pans 180degrees, moves away from me and zooms in on the object of my stare. Remind me how i got here? Ah yes... it was a challenge: to whip me into shape, rid me of underarm-dingle-dangle and to endow me with posture becoming of a princess, for my wedding in a month's time.

Focus. Deep breath. I take my first step and accelerate on my way upwards toward the studio.

Abductor, adductor, transverse ab muscles, longhead of the triceps (what!?!), pelvic floor... A crash course in muscle-lingo ensues (from Jacq) once i'm in my workout gear - sneakily sprung upon me while i'm lying on my back on the Reformer (1 of 6 work-out machines in her studio presently) so that i can't change my mind and try to escape. But all that melts away once she says the magic words and puts into context the purpose of working these muscles out - flat tummy, 6-pack abs, smaller waist (YES! there IS a God!), slimmer thighs (Hallelujiah!), and even... how should i say this... enhanced sensations usually associated with the bedroom - the key muscle being the pelvic floor. Yahoo.

Throughout the 1hr workout, i discovered muscles which i never knew i had. My image of a fit, strong and fairly toned self was dashed to bits as i was put through the basic paces of a pilates workout. It started off well enough, then some exercises had me more breathless than usual and towards the end, I embarrasingly "shuddered" through the more challenging moves as my muscles protested and seized up.

But things changed when i stood up from the reformer at the end of the class. The most immediate difference was a deep stretch in my abdominal muscles all the way to my pelvic bone. It felt as if my muscles were taut and made me feel that my tummy was being held-in without my actually sucking in and holding my breath. I felt that my back was straighter and that i was walking taller. Nothing ached (yet) and I had hardly perspired. I felt good.

In fact, i felt so good that i decided that i still had it in me to hit the driving range and go through a basket of golf balls.

As i retraced my steps down the steep flight of stairs, i found myself getting accustomed to the ache in my ab muscles. I actually like it... it makes me feel... accomplished.

I complete my descent from The Pilates Place and pad along the rows of shophouses along Tras Street, back to the car, knowing that i won't be hesitating at the bottom of those stairs again.