Fit to Print Volume 23 Issue 3 September 2014 | Page 27

Mind Body Spirit
continued from page 6

motivating me! It was a great
motivator to keep me focused on the
goals I had already set in motion. I
joined with you, and by the end of the
contest I had reached my first goal of
losing 35 lbs. I continued along the
path after the contest and continue on
the path I set to this day, maintaining
the life style changes I made during
the contest. I used the contest as a
springboard to my ultimate goal of
losing a total of 40 lbs. Which I have
done as of this writing! I plan on
keeping it off too! The honest truth is,

you would like to share?
KD: Yes, when I first noticed the real
difference…I was traveling quite a bit
last year, and when I wasn't able to do
my Pilates, I came back to my sessions
and I noticed the difference. I was in
tune to muscles I never knew I had.
One thing I liked training with you,
Dina, as you know, there were times I
felt I was “leveling” out. Just when I
felt I was “hitting that plateau” the
next session was different. It is always
changing, always new and always more
challenging. I continue to get more

Leg Up: Bob C. with Dina

I have a track record of losing weight
and putting it back on, or reaching a
short –term goal and losing focus. The
difference this time is that the Pilates
has opened me to a new awareness.
Once you have the foundation of the
principles, you can apply it to other
areas of your life. It is a continuous
journey. Yeah, this time, there is no
going back. I threw away all my fat
clothes…they were very expensive…so
that would make it even more painful
and costly to go back! I really am
confident that this time I will not go
back. I am done with all the “yo-yo”
stuff. Also, my asthma has gotten
much better…I use the medicine a lot
less.
DV: What advice would you give
others just starting out on their Pilates
journey?
KD: I think a person who does Pilates
and Yoga needs to be “mature.” You
need to be able to think beyond the
exterior, away from the mentality of
“look at my muscles,” “I ran a
marathon,” etc. As I said before, this
is a journey. You need to be of a
certain mindset, a certain “mental
maturity” in order to benefit and
understand the discipline of this work.
DV: That is very insightful, Kevin, and
very, very true. Any other thoughts

should do it as well, it wasn't until this
article peaked my interest that I
concurred.
DV: Yes, you were pretty resistant to it
before that article! What do you find
different about Pilates than other
exercise you may have done in the past?
BC: Pilates seems more like stretching
than aerobic exercise.
DV: How has Pilates affected your life,
ie: body changes, strength, flexibility,
etc.?
BC. Dina, you seem to have an uncanny
ability to identify faults in my stance,
gait, sitting posture - whatever - that
lead to those aches and pains that
people my age experience. Many times
you have had me make corrections and
be aware of my posture, which brought
an end to those annoying pains. Those
results have made me committed to
continuing lessons with you. I feel like
my body is like a rag doll, like some

On the ball: Scott B.

and more in tune with my body…I
mean how many times, how many
ways can you curl a dumbbell? My
mental awareness and fitness level has
changed along with the physical, and,
as I said…this time, is different!!! So
to anyone reading this, if you see me
around the gym and I start looking like
the Michelin man…you better say
something!!!!
DV: I won't let that happen Kevin!!!!
Neither will you….this time!
Bob C. Age: 68
DV: How long have you been doing
Pilates?
BC: I have been doing Pilates for
about three years.
DV: Tell me a bit about your fitness
background:
BC: I am basically fit and healthy at
5'9” 175 lbs. I have never exercised
much – for the sole purpose of
exercise. I play a lot of golf and I
bowl….not exactly Olympic sports.
DV: What brought you to try Pilates
the first time:
BC: A few years back, I read an article
you wrote in the Fit to Print
Newsletter about golf and how Pilates
can help the golfer. Although my wife
had been taking Pilates sessions with
you for years and kept