Dancer,Yes, But...

...a very awkward, rusty one! Sometimes I hear and read about people feeling intimidated about taking a Pilates class with a teacher who is a dancer, or with other class attendees who are/were dancers. But let me put your mind at ease: we struggle and we do not have perfect form. And more times than not, WE are the ones being overly critical of ourselves and wondering how we look in class.

I have been dancing since the age of five (probably well before that but that's the age I was enrolled in classes). I have always struggled with technique. I cried many tears in ballet classes, even the ones I took in college. Technique has never come easily to me. But I love dance beyond measure and will continue to dance as long as possible, preferably to my last day. And you know what? Pilates keeps me dancing. Pilates is what made it possible for me to return to the dance studio. Pilates is what helped me to rebuild strength in my back that had been in chronic pain through my 20's.

I am a dancer and I am a Pilates teacher and I love teaching everyone; without judgment or expectation. I can promise you that. Though I have had my moments of pride when I nailed a leap (very much back in the day), I have had a lot more moments of feeling "less than" and frustrated when my body didn't cooperate. I have learned to feel gratitude for what my body CAN do, which has been liberating. I dance all the time now, even if I am awkward and dorky. It brings me joy. And that is what I want for my students: joy of movement, whether you dance or run or skip or ski or walk or crawl into bed or whatever it is that you love. I can help you. And you help me, too. Teaching Pilates brings me joy, which adds a little flair to my kick-ball-change.