Lifestyle Disease by Online Pilates Instructor, Judy Farmer
Would you have ever thought of hiring a personal trainer twenty years ago? Back then, hiring someone to help you or your kids loose weight and exercise regularly would have been something reserved for professional athletes or the rich. And that mat in the back of your vehicle was something you had just bought from home depot.
According to economic trend predictor, Paul Zane Pilsner, income per family tripled in the 90s. Living large meant living larger for many people with obesity swelling populations like Michigan and Texas to epidemic portions; oops, I mean proportions. He now says the wellness industry is set for great expansion. I believe that along side social media, wellness will be the new dot com boom minus the fallout.
Our culture had become driven by economics. As our health waned, our expendable income grew and we chose to expand our physical life in terms of cars, homes and a plethora of other stuff like gadgets, furniture and clothes. Our tendency generally went from work hard to play hard and we began to loose touch with our bodies.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have our health and fun too? I believe we can!
Let's have a little compassion on our party culture. Most of our parents couldn’t show us any example of handling extra money because they never had it. How many of your Moms had fitness club membership or did pilates at home? We watched them work hard each day grateful for food on the table and a roof over it all. When the money started coming, our first reaction generally was, “Lets get more food and a bigger house.”
Over half the people in my pilates classes used to suffer greatly from this disease. They’ve worked hard or still do. They come to me weak and overweight, driving beautiful cars and living in comfortable homes. Sadly, as I mentioned in my article “Staying Healthy at Work”, many know they are getting weaker and live in pain rather that missing any work. They are accustomed to a large home with few people in it. They feel like they can’t do without it while some are loosing years of life through obesity and the resulting cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and much more.
Their doctors deserve a little compassion as well. Because these patients can’t/won’t change their lifestyles, the docs have no choice other than to proscribe medicines that only treat symptoms and may have negative side effects over time.
Economic downturn and ill health have been our wake-up call. A blessing in disguise. Again, my mantra “go within” comes in handy. Many of us DON’T KNOW HOW. We shy away from spiritual forms of exercise.
That’s where being a pilates instructor comes in handy. I teach people to “go within” without them knowing it. I know that their breathing and focus take them into a trance-like state where they are able to receive affirmations like “ I am so grateful for my excellent body.” or “I am so proud of myself for taking care of my lovely and beautiful body.”
As our western culture receives this wake up call, lets feel compassion and gratitude. We all have to admit we’ve somehow been victims of “lifestyle disease.”
