Finding the Center: On Acceptance, Flexibility, and Gratitude
The Best Laid Plans
We often walk into our lives with a fixed blueprint. For years, I had a clear vision for my life in the arts, a specific path, a defined goal, and a steady pace.
But plans rarely unfold exactly as we imagine…
Recently, during a class, I said: “We are learning to be flexible so we can be strong.” One of my students, who is a therapist, shared that she would quote that line in her sessions. It was a beautiful moment of intersection between the physical body and the psychological self. We aren’t just stretching muscles; we are training our minds to withstand the breaks that life sometimes imposes on us.
From Performance to Progress
Stepping away from my original world and into the world of Classical Pilates required a total recalibration. Maybe because my background was not in competitive sports, I’ve never approached the exercises with a sense of ambition, stardom, or competition.
I came to Pilates to focus on the people in front of me and how to help them move better.
This is the heart of Contrology Pilates, the system that Joseph Pilates taught. The work centers on:
- Healing: Restoring the body to its natural state
- Community: Building a space where we grow together
- Resilience: Adapting to the circumstances we are given
During the First World War, Joseph Pilates developed his method while interned in a camp, working with injured and ill detainees. Using what was available, even attaching springs to hospital beds, he helped people regain strength and mobility. He adapted to the reality of the moment and supported others in finding strength within it.
There had to be more to his mission than performing perfect movements. It feels closer to a way of staying human in difficult conditions, of finding purpose in helping others remain strong, steady, and well. There is something striking about finding inspiration in helping others stay healthy and grounded when everything around them is unstable.
The Three Pillars of the Shift
Transitioning my entire life was grounded in three core principles:
Acceptance allows us to recalibrate. When we stop fighting what is, we can begin to value where we are.
“Radical acceptance rests on letting go of the illusion of control and a willingness to see things as they are.”
Tara Brach
Flexibility is more than a physical attribute; it is the mental capacity to readjust. When the plan changes, the flexible mind finds another way.
“The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.”
Japanese Proverb
Gratitude recognizes the value of the process itself, and the people who move through it with you.
Joseph Pilates said it best: “The years have been happy since I have had more to give than get.”
Closing Reflection
At Pilates School of Movement, the work centers on showing up, trying, adjusting, and trying again. I often think back to this moment of Joseph Pilates teaching a client, guiding them toward trust in their own ability to begin. The movement itself carried less importance than the willingness to enter into it.
There is a sense of accompaniment in that kind of teaching. People are not held to a finished standard; they are supported in their process. Where you start is already enough. In many ways, it is already perfect.
And that is where the work continues: in participation, in presence.
Stay flexible. Stay strong. Stay willing to begin.
If this way of learning Pilates resonates with you, we are located at Chaussée de Charleroi 173 in Saint-Gilles, minutes away from Ixelles and Châtelain. We’d be happy to welcome you! 💛