Circle...

It's Saturday Pilates day. Kiki isn't here this morning so Diane is stepping in. Diane was the first Pilates teacher I ever had so I'm excited to see how much I've progressed since she first saw me. It quickly becomes apparent that this isn't going to be easy to compare because before class begins she has everyone grab a Pilates circle. Basically its a circle that is designed to simulate the position a woman is in when she is in labor. Now I know I've compared Pilates to birthing before, but today the similarities are even more severe.

The circle goes in between my knees and the whole purpose is resistance to squeeze against. Basically it's like using a Thigh Master while on your back with your legs in tabletop position. It feels like a really compromising position to be in and I am super uncomfortable. Like super wicked uncomfortable. And I am gassy today, so I feel the need to apologize to all the ladies in the class.

We do several different exercise with this demon circle including some side leg raises and corkscrews (you probably don't know what those look like, but just imagine awkward things with a sixteen-inch hula hoop in between your legs or around your ankles). Diane makes class difficult. Good for you Diane, still making me work really hard.

Though I will say, I'm getting really good at some stuff. My core is definitely stronger and I have a lot more stamina than I did on that very first day of Pilates. Thank goodness one of the things I'm supposed to be doing throughout the workout is engaging muscles like I'm about to pass gas but I don't want to. Honestly, that is verbatim what Kiki tells us almost every time.

After class I don't swim because I swam yesterday evening and I'm tired. I had home and have a healthy breakfast of scrambled eggs and wheat toast while I wait for the arrival of my dear friend Shawn, with whom I will be spending the rest of my day. Also, cool news: Today marks 10 days in a row at the Beverly Athletic Club. A new record, according to FourSquare. Bam.