Burbank Parks & Rec Pilates – A Real Life Changer

I don’t know what it is about the Parks and Rec guide that comes out four times each year, but I always get so excited for what I’ll find inside its pages. While I have enrolled my kids in more classes than I can count, I never enrolled in one for myself.

But back in December, I decided that it was time to do something for me. For years, I have read over the descriptions of the fitness classes, too afraid to enroll in one. I’m not exactly a “fitness fanatic,” and when it comes to anything having to do with dance or extreme cardio, I was way too afraid to embarrass myself in a class. Then I saw Pilates. I didn’t know anything about it except for the fact that I have heard that celebrities do it to get in shape, and hey, celebrities don’t lie and they look good, so I decided to go way outside my comfort zone and give it a try. Better yet, I decided to step into this unknown world three mornings per week. That’s from zero to three days per week!

When January rolled around, I braved my first class. I was so nervous I could hardly stand it. I had no expectation of what the class was actually going to be like, but I knew one thing for sure: I was going to hang in the back to as to not make a fool of myself. “Draw no attention,” I thought. “Just muddle through under the radar.”

“Is this anyone’s first time doing pilates?” Michelle the instructor asked as we began the class. I sheepishly raised my hand, trying to sink into my new yoga mat so no one would see me. She smiled and assured me that she would help us newbies through the class.

“Here we go,” I thought. “There’s no turning back now.”

I barely made it through the class. Apparently, unknown to me, pilates, uses your own body’s resistance and gravity to strengthen muscles and your body’s core. Being I was so out of shape, let’s just say that the first week of class I experienced a level of soreness afterward that I could not have imagined back in December when I made the three-day-a-week commitment. But there’s something like Michelle that makes this class addictive and gave me the hope and encouragement not to quit, in spite of my lack of muscle flexibility and my hip falling out of joint during class. She is incredibly positive, knowledgable and even through the room was full of 30 or so other people (of all ages and body types) working out, I still felt like I am getting one-on-one attention.

Before long, something amazing happened. I stopped getting sore. By week four I touched my toes for the first time. I started seeing definition in my abs. I was getting stronger and I was no longer sore. In fact, I wasn’t just not sore, I was (and am) feeling great. Most importantly, the hypermobility issues, pain and discomfort I have been dealing with in my joints my entire life–especially in my hips–have now all but vanished. Gone!

In short, Michelle and her Parks and Rec Pilates class at the Verdugo Park gym have changed my life. Michelle is a gifted teacher and really knows her stuff. Even though there are 30+ people in the class, everyone on the floor get tons of personal attention. Michelle is dedicated to providing her students with a top notch Pilates session, and I seriously can’t imagine a better, more motivating teacher.  I am addicted to feeling better and stronger and can’t believe the difference Michelle and the class have made in my life. What was once my fear is now my new way of life.

If you are like me and you’ve been thinking about taking a Parks and Rec class but have just never pulled the trigger, the time to change your life is now! Registration is going on now and classes start next Monday. Whether it’s an art, fitness or finance course, there’s no time like the present to invest in yourself. I did and I am so glad I did.

• You can read the Parks and Rec Guide by clicking here.
• You can register online by clicking here.