I had my first panic attack when I was 23 (I’m 41 now). I thought I was going to die that day. Those of you who suffer from anxiety or depression know how bad it can get; you live in constant fear, fear of the unknown, fear of feeling out of control, and fear of the “make-believe” stories your mind is telling you. It has taken me years of therapy, meditation, exercise, and good nutrition to find a place where I feel safe; understanding my anxiety was key.
I completed my first Pilates certification in 2017 when I decided to stop dancing (cold turkey, as they say). The transition made sense as I didn’t picture myself sitting in an office from 9-5. I started teaching in a few studios, bought my first Reformer, and taught private lessons at home. When the pandemic hit, and we were all under house arrest, I spent my time stressing about the horrible headlines, fearing going outside and getting infected. There was that word again: FEAR is anxiety’s best friend. One day in May, my friend Nancy Castiglioni messaged me that her friend, a Pilates teacher from Argentina, was offering an online Classical Pilates Mat certification. I immediately agreed and signed up; I had nothing better to do anyway.
I still remember our first Saturday Zoom meeting; what was this classical Pilates? How come I had never heard of it? I was in awe; my mind was blown away. By the first week of practice, I was smitten; I realized this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life (I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it!). I started feeling that part of me I thought had died with dancing come back to life, but 100 times better. This time, I didn’t need to prove anything to anyone. I also noticed my stress and anxiety levels go down.
Was the constant repetition of the exercises working as a mindfulness session? YES! Of course! I’ve always been a very active person. So, sitting down and anchoring my mind with breathwork was not for me, but practicing the same movements over and over again got the job done! Anxiety hates living in the present moment, and that’s exactly what Pilates was doing for me. Joseph was a genius. Physical fitness IS the first requisite of happiness!
Fast forward to 2024, I fall in love with the method daily. Pilates has given me so much. It has saved me from many difficult situations and taught me to be patient, trust, and believe in myself. If I could overcome my fear of hanging from the Cadillac, do a headstand, and be strong enough to do an entire advanced Reformer series, then I could handle anything that came my way. It’s all in the mind. Anxiety is always going to be there, but now I have Pilates. When I feel uneasy, I’ll just hop on an apparatus and let the dopamine takeover: I’ll admit it, I’m a Pilates junkie, and I live for the thrill of it! I believe in this method; I respect it and practice it religiously.
I hope my story serves as an inspiration to all of those who are struggling with mental health. My message to you is find something that makes you genuinely happy and repeat it as many times as you can, and if it’s Pilates, all the better!!
“The mind, when housed within a healthful body, possesses a glorious sense of power.”
Joseph Pilates
Ana danced professionally for 15+ years with Lolita San Miguel’s ballet company in Puerto Rico. In 2017 she was certified by Lolita’s Legacy Pilates and in 2021 did her first Classical Pilates certification via IRPA International of Argentina. Since then, she has trained with instructors such as Mariano Dolagaray, Eric Carlovich, and is currently completing the Principles of Guidance course with Miguel Silva in Portugal. Ana runs the first and only classical Pilates studio in her native island of Puerto Rico. Find her via Instagram @_vilates
