It was during the pandemic that I discovered Pilates. A friend was opening a studio and offered introductory classes, so I signed up. Because they were one-on-one Mat Pilates sessions over Zoom, my coach was able to give detailed, personalized instruction. She was relentless about correcting my form and would tailor each class according to my progress.

Working on the mat taught me to become more mindful of my breathing and helped strengthen my core. For a time, I even became mildly obsessed with balancing on the Pilates ball. I dare say I got pretty good at it, too.

One-on-one classes proved to be a solid foundation for my Pilates practice, but group classes have their own appeal. There is something oddly comforting about moving through the exercises alongside other people, even when you don’t know a single person’s name. I suppose it’s the sense of community, the feeling that somehow you’re all in this together, even if for only an hour.

Every class brings its own collection of characters, and my curiosity can’t help but take notice.

The Main Character

The Main Character needs no introduction. She glides into class with grace and confidence. She’s the sort of girl who appears not to sweat, even during the most challenging movements. I honestly don’t know how she manages to execute every exercise without a single strand escaping from her perfectly neat bun.

I confess, I look to her for updates on the latest fitness outfits. She always seems ready for a quick OOTD post. As for me, I’m not quite prepared to attempt the flared leggings she had on the other day. I suspect they would  make my tree pose more challenging.

One of these days, I will ask her where she got her lovely ballet-inspired top. 

The BFFs

There are different versions of the Pilates BFFs. Most come as a pair of women, accountability buddies perhaps who have sworn to take classes together through hell or high water. 

Others arrive in groups of threes, with a fourth occasionally joining in, and they are an unabashedly rowdy bunch. It is always a joy to share a class with them. You feel as though you’ve wandered into an instant barkada gathering with running jokes and affectionate teasing. 

They grow quiet when it comes to the more difficult parts but instantly erupt in congratulatory laughter as soon as the routine is finished. They make classes warm and light with their friendly vibe.

The Hyper Functional Woman

She’s the type who has exactly an hour to squeeze in between a meeting and an errand, and she is all business. Extremely intentional, she comes to the studio with a clear agenda: core stabilized, stress regulated, then on to the next item on the day’s list.

I only catch glimpses of her now and then because group classes are rarely her thing. She prefers one-on-one sessions, the better to make every minute work for her.

Formidable is how I would describe her. In fact, I sometimes find myself wishing she’d run the country, for all our sakes.

The Athlete

I once attended a class with the Athlete, and I remember wishing I possessed even half her focus. She was intensely disciplined. Whenever I found myself getting lost in the choreography of movement, I only had to look her way for my cue, and somehow I’d be on point again.

Some come to Pilates to get better at their sport; others arrive to heal from one injury or another. One showed up with a huge bruise on her arm, but she went through the entire class like it was nothing.

I want to grow up just like her.

Gen X Me

And then there’s Gen X Me. 

A year or so shy of sixty, she takes Pilates because she wants a functioning body well into her seventies and hopefully her eighties – if she’s still around, that is. 

She comes to class in grey cotton T-shirts and leggings that she’s had since forever. She was always curious about where her classmates got their grip socks until she stumbled on an activewear brand at a fitness bazaar. She ended up splurging not just on socks but on buttery-soft nylon-spandex tops.

Gen X Me sweats profusely and drinks from her collapsible cup every chance she gets. 

At first, she didn’t understand why some classmates took videos of their classes. When she filmed the classes herself, she discovered it was useful, a way to check the positioning of her feet and the angle of her shoulders. 

She loves her classes because, for that hour, she gets to think only of her muscles moving, her lungs breathing. 

She’s mildly terrified of turning into one of those Pilates archetypes who grabs a matcha after class. But then again, who doesn’t love matcha? 

Whatever.

Pilates is love.