Last week I mentioned I’ve been easing back into exercise—yes, even dancing in the kitchen. That small step felt huge, but I’ve done something even more surprising: I joined a proper exercise class. It felt monumental to sign up after so long.
The last time I attended a formal class was about twenty years ago. My friend Andrea and I used to pile into the car at dawn during winter to make a step aerobics class at the community center. We bounced along to the perky instructor’s cheerful cues until I injured my knee and we were redirected to the weight room. Lifting weights, I quickly discovered, was no match for the temptation of a warm bed.
That experience left me avoiding group classes for decades. But with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia in the mix, I’ve also learned that some forms of exercise simply don’t suit my body. I remember the relief when my doctor advised against jogging and recommended low-impact activities like walking, Pilates, and gentle yoga instead. That guidance opened the door to safer ways to move and helped me accept that “high-impact” isn’t the only path to fitness.
I have a Pilates video at home that I pull out once in a while, though admittedly my motivation can be hit-or-miss. As part of a new healthier eating plan, I’ve been trying to be more consistent with movement. When a friend told me about a new combined Pilates and yoga evening class and invited me along, I surprised myself by saying yes.
Determined but a little rusty, I rummaged through my closet and discovered I didn’t even own a single pair of proper exercise pants. I dug through drawers and cupboards, then settled on a pair of navy Calvin Klein shorts that felt oddly out of place amid a roomful of yoga pants. Thankfully, nobody seemed to mind.
My friend and I took a spot at the back of the studio. The instructors were warm, encouraging, and clear in their instructions—exactly what a beginner needs. Still, after about twenty minutes I was ready to roll up my small pink mat and head home. The class was an hour long, and that felt like a long time when you’ve been out of practice.
I knew a few Pilates basics, but yoga felt entirely new. The poses—Warrior, Downward Dog, and others—looked effortless on my classmates. I tried to appear composed while not having the slightest clue what I was doing.
Then came the Eagle pose. It begins with a pretend chair sit—imagine sitting into an invisible chair—and the arms extend forward like a slow-moving zombie walk. Then you take one leg and twist it over the other until you’re wrapped almost like a pretzel. The moment I lifted my foot and wrapped it around my standing leg, my glutes lit up and fire spread through my thighs. When the instructor demonstrated the arm position, I realized my arms simply did not cooperate. I’ve been practicing since and I still struggle to get the arm wrapping right; perhaps my coordination will improve with time.
To give you a sense of the pose, there’s an image included below showing a clear example of the Eagle position. Try it yourself: stand up, give it a go, and notice how balance and focus are as much part of the exercise as strength.
Later in class we moved down onto our stomachs to work into a plank. I wanted nothing more than to rest my head on the mat, but the instructors guided us through proper alignment and a few playful variations. They demonstrated a faster, more advanced move that involved crisscrossing the legs under the body; when I tried to follow, my friend and I exchanged a glance and dissolved into laughter. The kind of laughter that makes your belly ache and gives you a completely different sort of workout.
We kept our giggles quiet, but the moment broke the tension and reminded me that starting something new doesn’t have to be perfect. I didn’t master every move, and I certainly didn’t perform the criss-cross-leg plank with any grace, but I left feeling lighter and oddly proud for sticking it out.
Tonight is another class night. This time I’m better prepared: I bought a pair of exercise pants—extra roomy and comfortable. I’m committed to giving myself time to learn the poses and the rhythm of a class. For anyone returning to exercise after a long break or adapting movement for health reasons, finding supportive instructors and a beginner-friendly environment makes a world of difference.
Exercise doesn’t need to be dramatic to be meaningful. A gentle Pilates session, a beginner’s yoga class, or a daily walk can all build stamina, improve balance, and lift your mood—especially when you’re consistent and kind to yourself. I’ll keep going, keep laughing when things get awkward, and keep celebrating small wins like showing up and trying the Eagle pose again tomorrow.
