Lessons In Zen From The Founder Of Good Times Pilates

Photo Good Times Pilates
By Ruby Staley

I’ll be the first to say, I’ve never been a Pilates girl.

I could try to put it down to the ridiculously fit, toned and tanned women who I imagine to attend the classes and seemingly have all the time in the world to stretch and drink green smoothies, or even the mechanic Pilates machines that I feel like I would 100 percent pull a muscle on. But, actually, the reason simply is that I simply never gave myself the chance to try it.

With this year’s COVID lockdowns came a rapid influx of spare time I had to spend within the confines of my house which, led me to try out a range of different exercise routines. I tried the morning sun salutation yoga, the afternoon run, the HIIT sessions after work and even (my personal favourite) walking and wining with my friends within our allowed radius. And while I enjoyed many, if not all of these exercises, I found a one-size fits all approach never lasted long.

After many attempts and a few fails to get my routine right, I realised listening to my body and doing what feels right at the time evidently works best – for me anyway. This is the very same mentality that Cat Webb of Good Times Pilates promotes through her work.

Trying to find the Mr Right of exercise routines in the hopes of kick starting my belated Pilates career, I spoke to Cat to demystifying my baseless fears about Pilates and why myself and you (yes, you reading) should give it a go.

How did you get into pilates?

I got into exercise, the day I took my first Pilates class at 27. I knew from that first class that I'd found a form of exercise that I actually enjoyed, it was kind of shocking to me, I was totally hooked.

I spent the next year going to a class almost every day. My entire mindset, lifestyle and body changed. I had a real transformative experience if you will. The experience of exercise being fun, challenging, rewarding and empowering was something I hadn't known until I found Pilates. There is a real je ne sais quoi about Pilates, many have tried to define it, it's something to do with how your mind is working in simultaneous flow and arousal, it's that 'mindful movement' thing, it's like a form of therapy. 

I know that you’ve just begun offering virtual classes, tell me a bit about them?

While our physical studio is closed, we're running live online classes that you book into and take live-streamed from out place straight to yours. Good Times Online is a permanent and ongoing online platform of on-demand classes, to watch any time you like.

Our online classes mimic the styles of our in-studio Reformer classes, so we have different styles to suit how you want to move or feel on the day. Our on-demand platform takes that approach and makes it even easier because you can filter classes by how you want to feel, or what body part you want to workout, or how long you'd like to exercise for, or class style, or teacher. 

Have they been successful and enjoyable so far?

Our live classes have been hugely successful, during first lockdown when the rest of the world was with us, we had participants joining us from all over the world; San Fran, Berlin, London, Sydney, Jerusalem, Brooklyn, Manila, Auckland, Barcelona, Alice Springs, Buenos Aires, Toronto. I had plans to create an on-demand platform for about a year before COVID, but the first lock-down really solidified the need and demand for classes that can be accessed from any where, whenever you like. We're very humbled and grateful that people are getting into our online classes, I think people are really wanting a movement experience that allows them to come as they are, to feel good about exercise and feel included in the fitness landscape. 

As a team, we've actually really enjoyed teaching online, because now we get to physically do the classes too! Being a studio that specialised in Reformer Pilates, myself and the team had a fast and fun journey to becoming Mat teachers, which involves different skills and exercises.

Tips for beginners like me who know little to nothing about Pilates or want to get into it, but just don’t know how?

There is no way to do this wrong. In our classes, you'll be empowered to move in a way that feels good for you on the day. We give you options and you can take everything at your own pace. All of our classes are open level and suitable for any level of fitness and experience, plus you can filter classes that are suitable for newbies, so you know you're in the best place for you. Any movement at all is beneficial, so maybe some days you might kind of flop about and turn off halfway (as if the upside of on-demand) and other days you might feel really energised and ready to get into it. It's ok to honour where you're at on the day. 

To join on-demand classes you'll need the internet, space to move in, a mat, water and a towel. Class descriptions tell you if you need anything extra, with alternatives suggested.

Other than pilates, how else do you like to care for yourself and your body?

I've done, and continue to do, a lot of work on body image, cultural and traditional expectations, diet culture, equality and inclusive movement. I continue to care for my body and mind, and the body and minds of the humans around me by doing the work to become better, to think critically about my lived experience and my place in society. Caring for myself is a mental state of being where I'm striving to let go of the negative self shit talk. It's being mindful of what I think, what I say and how it might affect my environment. 

During this crazy year we've had, why do you think it’s most important to maintain a good exercise, pilates or yoga routine?

Motivating factors are so different for everyone and there is already so much going on this year, so I think letting go of any expectations you might put on yourself is a really great place to start. I recently did a little Instagram questionnaire asking why people exercise / what motivates them to move, so I'll let our community members speak here; because it makes me feel-good in my body and mind, it's a moment in my day that's just for me, it helps me sleep better, allows me to get out of my head and learn to appreciate my body, to help with my mental health, it gives me more energy, it helps me feel strong, makes me like I'm connected to a community, for the magic endorphins, etc. 

To sign up for Good Times Pilates online classes or even try a seven day free trial, visit goodtimespilates.com.au.