The Moment I Realized My Body Wasn’t the Problem
I had an “aha” moment in my mid-30s that changed everything I believed about exercise.
For so long, I tried to fit myself into fitness programs that celebrated intensity — the ones that glorified sweat, soreness, and “no pain, no gain.” I pushed through classes that left me drained instead of energized. I remember finishing workouts thinking, Why does this feel so exhausting? What am I doing wrong? Why don’t I love this?
For years, I assumed I was the problem. Maybe I wasn’t strong enough. Maybe I wasn’t disciplined enough. Maybe my body was just...broken.
But here’s what I eventually discovered: my body wasn’t broken — the system was.
The Fitness System That Forgot How to Listen
Somewhere along the way, we started to believe that working out had to hurt to be effective. Sweat was an indication of a “good” workout. That slower movement didn’t count.
But women’s bodies — especially in our 40s, 50s, and beyond — are constantly communicating. As women our hormones, stress and recovery time add to the problem of finding an exercise program that fits our bodies. The problem is, most fitness programs teach us to ignore these things. They tell us to override our signals and just push through it.
Once I began listening to mine, everything changed.
Redefining What Strength Feels Like
When I discovered Pilates, it wasn’t love at first sight. To be completely honest, it was out of desparation. Exercise helped me clear my head. I was a new mom juggling the stresses of 2 children, working and managing a household. My mental health was beginning to take a nose dive. This was when I pivoted from traditional workout programs and noticed that I could move in a way that felt good — not punishing and still get results.
I started paying attention to how my joints felt, how my breath moved through me, and how small, intentional movements built real strength.
Little by little, I realized strength didn’t have to mean pushing harder. It could mean moving smarter. It could mean waking up with more energy, standing taller, and feeling at home in my body again.
Your Body Is Not Broken
Most women over 40 are still walking around believing their bodies are broken because they can’t keep up with workouts designed for 25-year-olds — with different hormones, different priorities, different everything.
Our bodies aren’t the issue. The way we’ve been taught to move is.
I hear this often from members in my online Pilates studio who have struggle with exercise their whole life. They believe they are the problem. Something is wrong with them. Why can’t they stick with exercise?
This is what I want you to know:
You were NEVER the problem. The fitness industry forgot about you.
I lived through this distortion and realized that movement doesn’t have to be intense, punishing and gruelling. It can be gentle, controlled, feel-good and still be powerful. It’s what motivated me to create a Pilates method that truly supports what women 40+ bodies need — so we can stay strong and thrive for decades.
If this message resonates, maybe it’s time to explore movement that actually meets you where you are — and kick the bootcamp classes to the curb.
You more than welcome to see how this feels in your body - try a 7-Day Free Trial to my online Pilates studio. No contracts. No pressure. Cancel anytime.