This week I had my final session … for now with one of my snowbirds. She’ll be back in the Fall but it’s time for her to return to Wisconsin. When she came to me she explained her circumstances. After retiring with the goal of golfing more, she unfortunately has been plagued with many issues and several surgeries. All of this has left her not able to golf.

As with any new client it’s a bit of trial and error figuring out what works and what doesn’t. I look at it like a puzzle. You may pick up a piece and realize it’s not the right one but you know you have the right one somewhere! I have enjoyed our sessions and also enjoyed watching her get stronger and start taking some steps towards golfing again. She began with the driving range and by the end of our time she was been playing 9 holes a few times a week!

She gave me a card at her last session and thanked me for helping her find herself and get her life back. Wow - to me this is powerful. I know Pilates can be magic and I’ve seen it before but I don’t always see the full impact it can have on someone’s life. I’ve had the pleasure of working with many fabulous instructors and mentors, honing my skills and building my toolbox but at the end of the day it’s the beauty of Pilates that is the hero.

When I have a day where I am tired from not sleeping well (cat owner’s may be able to relate to this!) or a very full schedule - I want to remember that what I do matters to someone else and has an impact on them. That gives me purpose and drive. It’s one of the reasons I’ve kept my studio smaller and focused on building a community. It’s a lot harder to help people when you don’t really know them or their circumstances and there are 11 others in the group. I left a career in advertising years ago because I desired a career that allowed me to do good and help others. I’ve certainly found that in Pilates!

I’m sharing this today because we all can have a profound impact on others - whether it’s through Pilates, a kind word, time spent, or some other skill. Don’t discount how your interactions can change someone else’s life. During a particularly challenging year, I had a client who would check in and ask me ‘how are you really doing”. That kindness kept me going and made me feel supported until I came out on the other side. Be the impact someone else needs!