Journey to U4ia (euphoria) is BrownStyle Magazine’s new column written by Vanessa Simmons. In this candid and inspirational series, the mom and multi-hyphenate entertainer shares her journey to wellness and mindful living.
My dearest BrownStyle Family, it is so good to be back! I’ve missed you over the last month and apologize for the absence of a February column. I hope you all have been well and finding ways to stay balanced these days.
I cannot believe we’re moving into the second quarter of the year. Life can move so quickly. That’s why it is important to consistently check in with yourself and ensure you are caring for your mind, body, and soul.
There’s so much happening in the world these days, and I think I speak for us all when I say that sometimes reading and watching the news can be heavy on the heart. To protect my wellness, I’ve been making sure to be intentional with self-care and staying focused on my Journey to U4IA.
With that being said, I wanted to share my experience of trying Pilates. Below, read about the physical, mental, and emotional benefits I experienced in two weeks.
Adding Pilates To My Workout Routine
Social media trends come and go, and when they come in— they’re everywhere! Pilates has exploded over the last year. Everywhere you look on social media, your favorite influencers are sharing morning #GRWM that consists of their Pilates routines.
I’ve been practicing Pilates long before it became a social media trend, but admittedly, was never consistent with it.
I recently came across a post calling it a “trend” and “deinfluencing” people in hopes that they don’t hop on the bandwagon of the fitness phenomenon. That set off a challenge for me.
My Pilates Experience
Over the last two weeks, I revisited Pilates to see if it was worth the hype. I started with a mat Pilates class at my local fitness club, and if I’m being completely honest, I was HOOKED after my very first class!
All of the ladies I peeped in class were regulars and had amazingly lean physiques, so I was intrigued. The work itself is low impact, but isolated so you can feel every single move. I found myself activating muscles I don’t think I’ve ever reached in HITT workouts.
It’s a slower pace and emphasizes breathwork and lengthening the body. The stretch I felt was so deep and good, it made me cry. It can be such a release, and I learned how much emotion we store in our bodies that we have to work to release. I left that first class feeling so inspired that it was easy to carry it on for the next two weeks.
My Results: Physical And Mental Benefits Of Pilates
As for the results, I’m seeing major improvement in areas I’ve been looking to sculpt for a long time.
I’m noticing more definition in my abs and my legs are toning up in a way that traditional working out never delivered for me, especially since I’ve joined the 40s club.
The mental and emotional benefits can’t be ignored. Since taking on the practice, I’ve also taken notice of how it’s improving my mood, reducing stress, and improving my posture.
Even though life will continue to life, practicing Pilates has certainly put me in a better mindset to attack those challenges and make them more manageable.
Moving into week three, I’m challenging myself by incorporating the reformer classes, along with mat Pilates.
After noticing some of the ways that Pilates has improved my routine, I can confidently say to any skeptic that it’s worth a try.
I think Pilates has changed the game for me and has pushed me further into U4IA. I hope it does the same for you!
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Editor’s Note: This story has been edited and condensed for clarity.
By BrownStyle Magazine in Special Editions
72 pages, published 1/17/2025
