Students find community in hot pilates
Sololiya Ebba | The Chronicle
With tiny hand weights and a rolled-up yoga mat, Pilates has become a favorite fitness trend among younger generations.
What started as a workout became a social ritual — part exercise, part connection. Studios across the nation have experienced an influx in teenage and young adult memberships. As Pilates gains popularity, it iss not just the fitness benefits that sell out classes; it is the sense of belonging and friendship with every pose, pulse and hold.
At Body Alive’s Mason location, heat meets strength in their 102-degree Pilates and Yoga studio. The studio offers a positive and uplifting workout environment where instructors and classes of up to 65 friends, families and strangers can participate in a practice that will not only tone their bodies but solidify their sense of community. Mason High School (MHS) junior Tessa Palmer has been taking Pilates classes for almost a year, and although the classes presented challenges at first, she has stuck with it.
“I first got into Pilates because all my friends went and I wanted to try it out,” Palmer said. “I really liked it because it was a time when I could be with my friends and be with myself too. It’s really hard, but every time you get better.”
Pilates promotes mobility and strengthens all the major muscle groups in a balanced way while having a main focus on the core. Through low-impact exercises held for minutes at a time, it provides a unique and challenging workout experience. For athletes, core strength is imperative to their success in their sports. As a Varsity Cross Country and Track and Field athlete throughout the entirety of her high school experience, Palmer understands the importance of maintaining a strong figure. Nearing her 100th class at Body Alive, she has perfected the balance between Pilates and running.
“I run year-round,” Palmer said. “Pilates is very different from that, but I feel like it helps me when I run, and running also helps me in Pilates. I love getting a nice sweat, and going [to a class] makes me feel very productive and healthy.”
Many who are hesitant to step into the hot room are afraid of just that — the heat. On average, Pilates studios range from anywhere between 90 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit. At Body Alive Mason, the studio rests at 102 degrees. The heat is intended to quickly warm up muscles, allowing for deeper stretches and a greater range of motion. This ability to stretch further into the movement increases both strength and flexibility as well as reduces the risk of injury.
In a 45-minute class, nearly every muscle group receives its own period of focus. Whether it is weighted glute bridges, squats with a resistance band or an arm sequence, each exercise is designed to “burn out” a specific part of the body. For newcomers, the intensity of the workout along with the uncomfortable heat can be discouraging, but once acclimated, it becomes natural. MHS senior Avery Kemen got into Pilates after her friends convinced her to go, and she has noticed a significant difference in her strength since her first time in the hot room.
“When I first went, I was just getting the hang of everything,” Kemen said. “For example, we do this [exercise] called the ‘sideline’, where we’re on our side, our legs are straight out, and we lift them up and down to the rhythm of the music. In the beginning, I would struggle to just move the body weight of my leg, but now I can have six to eight pounds on the side of my leg confidently.”
It is not unlikely to see small and large groups of friends go to Pilates classes together, taking the time out of their days to sweat and get a workout in. Body Alive stresses the importance of a community at its numerous studios. With achievement walls that highlight members who have achieved their fitness goals, birthday shoutouts and instructor-member relationships, the atmosphere at Body Alive is welcoming and inspiring. Whether it is a time to decompress or hang out, Kemen appreciates the consistent environment Pilates provides for her and her friends.
“It is so nice because it’s a designated time throughout the day that I get to see my friends,” Kemen said. “We always like to go in early and sit in the hot room, especially in the winter when it’s cold. I have a lot of fun sitting and talking with my friends, just chatting about plans for the day, the weekend or things going on at school.”
Community shines through the glass mirrors at Body Alive. At the conclusion of each class, after a round of deep breathing and stretching, everyone claps, not just for the instructor, but for their neighbors, for themselves and for the goals that they are much closer to reaching. No matter if it is their first, 50th or 400th class, everyone is appreciated and celebrated for their hard work.
“Seeing everyone’s dedication is so motivating,” Kemen said. “If they can do it, I can do it. It creates a fun environment, [knowing that] everybody’s working towards the same goals. It feels like we’re all Body Alive family, so it makes a lot of sense when I feel proud of the stranger next to me who just hit 500 classes.”