Way back in 1999, I started my Pilates journey. I never expected when I signed up for that first class that I’d make a career out of it and decide to help hundreds of people feel better along the way. It truly has been a journey – as a professional AND personally – but it’s absolutely one I’m so happy I embarked on. This is my story of how I started Pilates and ended up an instructor!
I did not grow up coordinated. I hit my head a lot. A LOT.
I was hit in the head by every type of sports ball imaginable (soccer, baseball, football, tennis ball…you name it, I was probably hit by it). That wasn’t even the sad part. The sad part was that I wasn’t usually playing the sport when I was hit by the ball. I was either spectating or literally just walking by.
So, it’s not like I had some fabulous dance background where I just migrated into Pilates because everyone else was doing it.
I did exercise, mostly consistently, and it was usually walking, rollerblading, some cardio classes, and a bit of weights. I was relatively active, but not exactly “sporty”. I was not on any sports teams throughout school (except for one year of soccer where I was just a benchwarmer).
In 1999, I’d been working downtown Toronto for about a year and taking an hour-long train commute twice a day for a desk job. I’d go out for a walk at lunch, but it’d been a while since I’d been in a good routine with exercise. I was feeling squishy and out of shape, and I knew it’d just get worse if I didn’t do something about it.
I decided I’d take some classes at the local YMCA, so I looked through their guide. I’d heard of some belly dancing classes and thought that sounded fun, and I wanted to take a class. I was so excited to see that they had one and was ready to sign up!
BUT…belly dancing started at 6 p.m.
My train commute got into the closest station at 5:50 p.m. and that was about 20 minutes away, so it would make it a little tough to get to class on time.
Further down the page I noticed there was this thing called Pilates that started at 6:15 p.m.
I’d never heard of it, and I don’t even know if I really read the description, but it was good timing and I figured I’d try it out.
Let me take a moment now to tell you, I had NO idea what I was in for. It’s not like now, where everyone’s pretty much heard of Pilates, even if they don’t really know what it is. You have a general gist of the fact it’s lumped in with yoga a lot, it’s supposed to be good for your core, and a lot of dancers do it.
Not in 1999. This was before Mari Windsor’s infomercials, before Pilates had really gotten popular.
I’d literally had zero exposure to it. I didn’t recognize the name, didn’t “hear good things”, nothing. It just started a good time, and it was movement. I brought my mat to class and had no idea what to expect, but the instructor was lovely and welcoming.
That first class was an eye-opener!
I couldn’t straighten my legs when I was supposed to. Everything shook. I was unsure how MY abs were going to hold me like the instructor’s abs were holding her. I was working far harder than it looked like she was, too!
By the time we were finished, I was exhausted and exhilarated, and I’d loved every shaky, sweaty, “Wow, I’m not good at this at all” moment of it. It made me feel completely alive and connected to every single part of myself. And I didn’t even do it well!
I did those YMCA classes for almost 2 years and only missed twice – once I had the flu, the other I went to the Dominican Republic for a wedding – because I loved it so much.
I would tell my family & friends they had to try something I’d just learned in class. I’d get them to lie on my mat in my apartment to show them how good something was. I’d suggest things they could do to help parts of them that hurt or were tight.
By the time the company I worked for in Toronto was going under, I’d gotten pretty good at Pilates and felt really good doing it.
Because my job was ending, I needed to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I did all kinds of aptitude testing, seminars, and workshops to try to determine what kind of job I wanted and was suited for. This went on for at least two months.
One day, when I was frustrated and overwhelmed by all the choices that didn’t quite “fit”, my boyfriend (now husband) casually said, “Why don’t you just teach Pilates? You show everybody everything anyway, you might as well get paid for it!”.
Which is something I’d never considered. It was like heaven opened and angels started singing above my head.
Me, who was never “sporty”, could actually – maybe – teach Pilates to other people as a JOB?
Like, stand in front of other people in spandex, talk out loud, and try to help them?
As much as all those things terrified me, the thought of sharing my passion for Pilates made me light up. The suggestion resonated in my bones.
At the next class, I approached my instructor and asked if she thought I could do it (she did!).
She gave me a referral for my application to STOTT Pilates®, I was accepted, and I started my journey to becoming an instructor.
9 months of classes & anatomy training, a 100-hour apprenticeship, 3-hour written exam, and a 2-hour practical exam later, I was a Pilates Instructor! I was certified in October 2002 and have taught casually, part-time, and full-time throughout different stages of my life ever since.
During the pandemic I took some Classical Pilates classes online and was totally intrigued by the differences in that and the Contemporary method I originally certified in. I jumped at the chance to do a mentorship with Lesley Logan through her eLevate program as one of her first students.
It took 9 months, a ton of studying, self-practice, practice teaching, and 5 different evaluations before I completed the mentorship and became a 3rd generation Master Classical Pilates teacher as well!
Now I use both methods to help my clients get what they need from Pilates. Every body is different, and I have even more tools in my toolbox for them to get the most from their practice.
It's been over 20 years of loving this practice, embracing the changes in my own body, my knowledge, AND my life, and having Pilates as a constant throughout.
I’ve met hundreds of people and shared my passion for helping them feel better. It makes me happy every day to touch people’s lives, give them hope for their bodies, and help them discover how truly exceptional Pilates is.
Who knew that day I signed up for class from the YMCA guide, that I’d be here, more than 20 years later, being that teacher sharing this amazing kind of movement, who makes it look easy (but knows that it’s anything but)?
I look forward to introducing YOU to Pilates and helping you on your journey! If you’re excited, why wait?
Click here to book a call to get your personalized Pilates plan and find out how your life will change!
Xo, Kimberly
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