Pilates and payments
Emily
(would you believe me if I told you this is me?)
Had my fist ever Pilates class tonight, at recommendation of sports masseuse to help my back out (which is taking some of the strain away from my knees). I thought I would hate it, that it would be all slow and airy fairy (I had a disastrously dull experience with Alexander Technique at school which put me off all that area of exercises) and I would be impatient and probably just fall asleep.
In fact, it was really good. I was in a beginners/intermediate class of five people, and we started with all the basics - breathing, pelvic floor, ‘naval spine’, some easy exercises. But I felt it doing something, and I feel all nice and stretched now. Apparently, according to the teacher, we should feel a difference very soon, especially in our backs. Chatting to her afterwards, she didn’t seem to believe I hadn’t done it before (ha! I’m a natural - first time ever in a ‘sport’), asking me if I was sure I hadn’t ever done it, whether I was a dancer (not since the age of five when I was the podgiest little girl in a tutu in my class and more of a stomper than a fairy. I was then cast as a thundercloud in the school play - enough said.) and finally, did I do a lot of fitness. So I said yes, and explained the running - which led her to ask - “how are your knees then?”
Now there’s a question. I hadn’t been planning on telling her, but gave a 20 second summary to explain and she said Pilates should help out with my knees and the running, but then I guess she would! My knees are getting there though, I get some pain running, and still find it very uncomfortable kneeling and crouching, but we’re on track for the aim of getting to stage when I can pretend it never happened.
Another quick update - I’ve had a nice little interim payment from Mr Renault Laguna’s insurers, will be another year before I get the rest of my compensation but this is a very nice addition to the bank account! Along with £250 from British Gas for the bills I overpaid last year and £1400 from the tax man (I’ve been paying far too much tax every month for the last year apparently) I feel a bit like I’ve won the lottery. Thinking about retiring sometime soon… as if.
Emily also blogs here.