My latest habit is to look at myself whenever i pass a reflective surface. It doesn't matter whether it's a restaurant window, a framed poster in the Orchard Road underpass or even the brushed metal surfaces along buildings. I'm always trying to catch a glimpse of myself.
Actually, it's my arms... they look REALLY good now! Which pleases me to no end, naturally.
So, if you're enjoying a delicious chocolate cake and piping hot Illy coffee in PS Cafe at Paragon and you see this woman staring at you as she walks past, or rather, staring past you as she walks past - don't fret. It's just me... admiring my pilates-toned arms :)
Friday
Day 13 - The Morning After...
My wonderful friends threw me a hen’s party last night. Despite a grueling Friday noon-time pilates session, the excitement of what the night might bring kept my energy levels up and I arrived at Howl at the Moon at Peranakan Place with much anticipation.
I was not disappointed – 5 champagnes, 1 white wine, 2 whiskies and a feather boa-ed flamingo later, I was still standing and managed to get home without reviewing the contents of my stomach! An achievement because I’m famous for my two-drink maximum. Ask anyone of my friends.
And, to add another feather to my cap – I actually woke up and arrived in time for my 9.30am class at The Pilates Place! How’s THAT for commitment!
Jacq’s pilates class hit the spot, and it was a great way to get over the late night, the alcohol and the (mild) hangover. By the end of the class, my vision was back to normal (no longer blurry round the edges) and the slight ache in my skull had dissipated.
While I might not relish an early class when I’m hitting clubs the night before, pilates has definitely climbed to the top of my list of hangover cures
I was not disappointed – 5 champagnes, 1 white wine, 2 whiskies and a feather boa-ed flamingo later, I was still standing and managed to get home without reviewing the contents of my stomach! An achievement because I’m famous for my two-drink maximum. Ask anyone of my friends.
And, to add another feather to my cap – I actually woke up and arrived in time for my 9.30am class at The Pilates Place! How’s THAT for commitment!
Jacq’s pilates class hit the spot, and it was a great way to get over the late night, the alcohol and the (mild) hangover. By the end of the class, my vision was back to normal (no longer blurry round the edges) and the slight ache in my skull had dissipated.
While I might not relish an early class when I’m hitting clubs the night before, pilates has definitely climbed to the top of my list of hangover cures
Monday
Day 12 - Just a notch
It might have been my imagination but I could have sworn that today’s class was a shade tougher than the usual work out. Jacq seemed to be leading the class at a quicker pace and the movements seemed more challenging – raise your legs, point your toes, exhale, flex up and raise yourself to a teaser position… Oh! And while you’re at it – maintain your teaser position, stretch your left hand across to your neighbour on the right and poke her in the ribs. It was that complex.
After class, I hung back to chat with Jacq & Jackie – I was concerned because despite losing inches off my thighs and hips, the weighing scale said that I was the same weight!?
Now… I’m never one to trust the scales – who could blame me? I had been on the wrong side of 50kilos since I was a teen! The years of trauma led me to develop a mantra: As long as I looked good, I didn’t care how much I weighed.
The plausible explanations were:
1. I was retaining water. Possible…
2. I was gaining muscle. Equally plausible.
I thiiiink… both were probably happening at the same time. And, of course, I was looking better, which is the whole point ;)
After class, I hung back to chat with Jacq & Jackie – I was concerned because despite losing inches off my thighs and hips, the weighing scale said that I was the same weight!?
Now… I’m never one to trust the scales – who could blame me? I had been on the wrong side of 50kilos since I was a teen! The years of trauma led me to develop a mantra: As long as I looked good, I didn’t care how much I weighed.
The plausible explanations were:
1. I was retaining water. Possible…
2. I was gaining muscle. Equally plausible.
I thiiiink… both were probably happening at the same time. And, of course, I was looking better, which is the whole point ;)
Sunday
Day 11 - The return to Tras
After a hiatus of 4 days, I was a little nervous that I wouldn’t get past the Thursday evening group lesson without substantial internal injury. Nonetheless, I was glad to be at The Pilates Place again. The woody décor of the studio and its row of reformers was familiar and comforting while the scent of tea tree in the air was at once calming and invigorating.
True enough, I didn’t breeze through the lesson today. I had to concentrate harder to get the movements correct. In just 4 days, I had somehow forgotten to breathe correctly and I found my movements and breaths out of sync.
I latched on to Jacq’s voice and her instructions, trying to clear my mind of all preconceived notions of how I should be performing the movements. Perhaps Jacq sensed my struggles – I hope that they were the struggles of the other ladies in the class as well, but her advice came as such: Exhale for one second first to activate the core muscles and then begin your movement.
I obeyed dutifully and it made all the difference.
True enough, I didn’t breeze through the lesson today. I had to concentrate harder to get the movements correct. In just 4 days, I had somehow forgotten to breathe correctly and I found my movements and breaths out of sync.
I latched on to Jacq’s voice and her instructions, trying to clear my mind of all preconceived notions of how I should be performing the movements. Perhaps Jacq sensed my struggles – I hope that they were the struggles of the other ladies in the class as well, but her advice came as such: Exhale for one second first to activate the core muscles and then begin your movement.
I obeyed dutifully and it made all the difference.
Day 9 - Grateful for a Deserted Gym
In most business hotels, you can count on a short wait at the cycling machines or the treadmills even if you hit the gym at the crack of dawn.
At an island resort, however, things don’t work that way – there’s hardly anyone up at the crack of dawn, let alone gym rats huffing and puffing on machines.
So it is with gratitude that I head down to the gym for a quick cardio and some pilates exercises by-way of the Theraband, before my meetings.
At an island resort, however, things don’t work that way – there’s hardly anyone up at the crack of dawn, let alone gym rats huffing and puffing on machines.
So it is with gratitude that I head down to the gym for a quick cardio and some pilates exercises by-way of the Theraband, before my meetings.
Day 8 - Armchair Pilates
It’s my first morning in lovely, sunny Phuket where I was to be sequestered in an air-conditioned conference room, with the curtains drawn, facing presentations all day with respite only available during the designated tea & meal breaks.
Fortunately, I had a chance on Sunday (yesterday) to get out and enjoy the sunshine and scenery afforded by the Laguna Golf Course. Even then, pilates was on my mind – the new & killer routine that Jacq had put the class through on Saturday had focused on the upper back muscles which made me acutely aware of my upper back muscles with every golf swing that I took.
Being away from Singapore meant that I had to stay disciplined and put myself through the Theraband exercises that Jacq taught me after class on Saturday. Diligently, I had copied the details down but had somehow neglected to bring the sheet with me to Phuket. Sheer brilliance.
I tried to jot a couple of the movements down from memory but couldn’t recall much, which is when I decided to check out Youtube.com for videos. It turned out to be a great resource. Although… I suspected that nothing could beat my experiences of a real lesson at The Pilates Place.
Fortunately, I had a chance on Sunday (yesterday) to get out and enjoy the sunshine and scenery afforded by the Laguna Golf Course. Even then, pilates was on my mind – the new & killer routine that Jacq had put the class through on Saturday had focused on the upper back muscles which made me acutely aware of my upper back muscles with every golf swing that I took.
Being away from Singapore meant that I had to stay disciplined and put myself through the Theraband exercises that Jacq taught me after class on Saturday. Diligently, I had copied the details down but had somehow neglected to bring the sheet with me to Phuket. Sheer brilliance.
I tried to jot a couple of the movements down from memory but couldn’t recall much, which is when I decided to check out Youtube.com for videos. It turned out to be a great resource. Although… I suspected that nothing could beat my experiences of a real lesson at The Pilates Place.
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