I would have never put these two things together, however, on a recent trip to my first Pilates class, that’s exactly what happened.
Before I dive into that, let me back up and mention that for quite some time I've understood the power of scent and its ability to take us down memory lane. This was further validated when a friend introduced me to Aroma Freedom Technique (AFT), which is quite similar to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), but with a much gentler approach. Aroma Freedom Technique (AFT) is a step-by-step process developed by licensed psychologist, Dr. Benjamin Perkus, to identify and release negative thoughts, feelings, and memories that interfere with achieving our goals and dreams in conjunction with using essential oils to trigger a permanent shift in how we view ourselves in the world. Amazed by this quick and powerful process, I took a deep dive into this tool by enrolling in the Master Practitioner course.
So, what does this have to do with pilates? I'm getting there ;). First, I want to mention that fitness has always been a part of my life. I've played high-level softball, was involved in bodybuilding, and trained for and completed numerous triathlons and bike races. However, over the past three years, I've been unable to find a fitness routine that I could do without knee pain from previous injuries. In turn, I started gaining weight and losing muscle and flexibility. In a quest to change this, I used my new found tool and did an Aroma Freedom Technique process, all with a goal of finding and implementing a low impact routine that was both fun and enjoyable
The outcome of this process brought me to what I thought would be a perfect solution, Pilates. I booked an introductory course and off I went that Saturday in my shorts and t-shirt feeling a bit self-conscious about how I'd “let myself go". As I pulled up to the Pilates studio, I noticed people in their yoga pants, trim and fit, walking in. My inner critic began to scream “You don’t belong here”. I wanted to put my car in reverse and get the heck out of there, but instead, I listened to my other voice that said, “stop and smell the oils”. I quickly reached for my oils and did an Aroma Reset, a specific AFT technique. It was enough to tame the anxious voice inside that was telling me to leave. After that, I remembered my goal of finding a fun fitness routine that would be low impact. I did a few more rounds of AFT until I felt confident to go in.
What I found inside was an extremely supportive nonjudgmental staff that seemed to love their work and were eager to share their love of Pilates. I of course was hooked!
I love Pilates so much that I will complete 60 sessions this week in a little over 6 weeks. The most fun I have is in a class called CP Cardio, where you jump on a springboard while laying down on the reformer. It is low impact and makes me feel like a kid again!
I often think back to that day in the parking lot. Had I let that inner critic voice win and not picked up my oils to do a quick 60-second reset, I would have missed out on all this fun and all the cool people I've since met.
What are you missing out on because of that voice? Feel free to contact me and set up a session.