It all started with a Walk on the Beach...

June 14th, 2010

I always had a love for fitness while growing up, but throughout my college years I had grown distant from fitness while discovering the social atmospheres of life. One day my mom came and visited me in San Diego (she lives in Colorado) and said with much excitement, "Let's take a walk on the beach!". I had grown sedentary sitting on my ocean-view patio, watching the waves with a glass of champagne - not actually walking near the waves. Without knowing it, I had grown complacent with not having an exercise routine and feeling like a blob. I wasn't happy, felt like my body was hopeless (and I was only 23!), and my mom could tell I was hurting from the inside out. We went for that walk, but I had no idea how it was going to change my life.

Bare feet in the sand, sun on my back, waves washing up against my ankles, time to think and organize my mind, and working out my muscles at the same time - who could want more?!! From then on my life has continuously progressed towards better fitness, nutrition, and overall health.

I started simply walking the beach everyday. "One step at a time", as the saying goes. I began feeling so good from these walks that I started researching group classes at my gym again (which I had neglected for nearly 3 years!). I saw a Mat Pilates class on the schedule and said to myself, "Might as well try it out...the movie stars sure look good from it". Pilates does change the shape of your body - clothes fit differently. Pilates tightens your waistline even if no weight is lost on the scale. Pilates builds muscle without bulk and improves posture - makes you seem taller and slimmer.

However, for me, it wasn’t just the fact that Pilates triggered my muscles back into action, but it fueled my insides - mentally and spiritually - and I began feeling LIFE like never before. I breathed in air deeper. I appreciated sunshine sweeter. I stopped and smelled the tulips, the lilacs, and the roses. I approached life calmer, more confidently, and felt peace & inspiration all at the same time. I felt NEW.

So if you're reading this in one of those low times where life seems to be getting overwhelming; if there's too much work to do or not enough work to keep bills afloat, if kids are getting out of school for the summer and now even more of your time is going to be consumed, if the relationship you've been in just went hay-wire after all that effort you exerted or if you’re just feeling down and out...I have a suggestion for you. Take a walk on the ocean, smell in that ocean breeze, take a minute for yourself, and remember life is out there waiting for you and it still smells sweet. Center yourself, get re-inspired, and do some Pilates to stretch after that loooong, marvelous beach walk.

With Love,
Arielle