Introduction
For those of you that don’t know me, hi! My name is Azeezah Goodwin. And I’m a Pilates addict. Joking aside, I fell into becoming a Pilates influencer after sharing my Pilates journey on TikTok and Instagram.
@azeezahgoodwin #CapCut I go into this in greater depth on La Vie de Zee! #pilatesjourney ♬ Chopin Nocturne No. 2 Piano Mono – moshimo sound design
I began taking Pilates classes in 2022 after meeting a friend for lunch at Smorgasburg in Wynwood, Miami. After I remarked on how snatched she looked, she told me it was because she’d been going to Reformer Pilates classes at a studio right behind her building in Brickell everyday. She was in the process of founding her own company and she credited the classes for keeping her mentally clear as she worked hard to get things off the ground. She encouraged me to go, as well, and one fateful day in March 2022, I decided to heed her advice and sign up for classes.
I’d always been curious about Pilates, the kind that was performed on charmingly retro-minimalist platforms utilizing pulleys, ropes and springs. My first introduction to seeing a woman of color performing this type of Pilates was watching wellness influencer and heiress Hannah Bronfman deftly hanging from the bars of a Cadillac Reformer on her Instagram Stories. Seeing her do the workouts made it easier for me to imagine myself in a Pilates studio. Until Hannah, I’d only seen images of slim, white women doing studio Pilates. I’d heard rave reviews about the workout’s effectiveness, but it was still hard for me to mentally insert myself into that narrative until I saw Hannah’s content on Instagram.
I was still relatively new to Miami. And while I was happily enjoying the Florida sunshine, I felt untethered after leaving my old career path and was struggling to build momentum with my own entrepreneurial pursuits. Seeing my friend’s success in both her business and in transforming her body inspired me and gave me the push I needed to give it a go.
How it Began
Infrequent gym use due to the Pandemic meant that my body was in one of the weakest conditions it has ever been in. Trying to launch into exercise the way I used to proved too much for my body. Relatedly, my confidence was in the gutter. My physicality is a big part of my personal power, and I felt diminished and fragile both mentally and emotionally.
Timidly, I made my way to the Pilates studio. I told the manager that I was looking to start private classes, as I felt it would be discouragingly difficult to keep up with group classes. My type-A tendencies made me want to ensure that I had a good understanding of the fundamentals before starting group classes, where instructors typically don’t have a lot of time to provide individualized assistance.
The rest, as they say, is history. Almost two years later, I now host Pilates events and work with Pilates studios and Pilates and barre apparel brands. I’m now far enough along on my journey that I have a few kernels of wisdom to impart for those just starting on their path.
“How Long Until You Started Feeling The Results?”
I started feeling amazing immediately. I remember lacing up my sneakers after my first class and thinking to myself that I’d found something great. The combination of stretching and breathwork in addition to the challenging moves was an amazing combination for both my mind and body. I used to think that a “great workout” had to leave me out of breath, sweaty, pale and ravenously hungry. Finding something that left me pleasantly sore and caused me to break a sweat, but not feeling like I’d been hit by a truck was a game-changer.
One of my biggest hurdles — and one of the most important factors in achieving lasting success — was consistency. I needed a workout that I could do almost daily. Something that would become as routine as brushing my teeth. I also needed something that allowed me to shut my brain off and mentally relax. One of my favorite aspects of Pilates is how you’re required to listen closely to the instructor’s cues all class. Which means that you don’t have as much bandwidth for errant thoughts. The rhythmic cues and countdowns almost feel like hypnosis, lulling you into a calm mental state.
I started feeling amazing immediately. I remember lacing up my sneakers after my first class and thinking to myself that I’d found something great.”
On starting my Pilates journey.
It also felt great being able to do a full workout without feeling the need to eat a large quantity of food afterwards. The stress of intense workouts often left me feeling incredibly hungry. In the beginning stages of regulating my nervous system and rebalancing my hormones, Pilates was an amazing way to stay active without causing a cortisol spike.
When I started Pilates, I finished each class sweaty and sore. Now, I finish many classes without breaking a sweat, as my body is adjusting to the workouts. This has led me to include megaformer workouts and rebounding cardio workouts to boost my heart rate. Now that I’m becoming stronger and more regulated, I add in moderate stressors, like cold showers or sauna sessions, to help my body remain resilient to stress over time.
“How Long Until You Started Seeing The Results?”
There’s a famous Joseph Pilates (the founder of Pilates) quote which states: “In 10 sessions, you’ll feel the difference. In 20, you’ll see the difference, and in 30 you’ll have a new body.” I started seeing visible changes after my first 10 classes, notably in losing fat around my stomach. But after that, I began to plateau.
When I started Pilates, my body was carrying a fair amount of excess fat. So, while I was experiencing amazing strength gains, my outward appearance wasn’t showing the dramatic results you’d expect from the Pilates quote.
When I transitioned from private to group classes, I gave myself a 30-day challenge in which I took as many classes as I could for 30 days (I took approx 25 classes). At the end of the challenge, my body looked slimmer, but the results weren’t giving “new body.”
@azeezahgoodwin 🎉🥳 We did it! This is Class 25 in my 30 Days of Pilates series! I learned so much and even made a few new friends! I’ll definitely be continuing my Pilates journey. I am so proud of myself for keeping this commitment to myself. Going to use this momentum to go after even more of my goals and dreams ❤️ #reformerpilates #reformerworkout #pilates #miami ♬ We Did It! – Dora The Explorer
My results plateaued out a bit until I started incorporating intermediate-level classes and occasionally doing two-a-days. I’m seeing much faster results now that I’m combining classical Pilates, rebounding and walking with megaformer classes and weightlifting in the gym, alongside diet tweaks.
“What Would You Have Done Differently?”
As mentioned above, I would have started upping the intensity sooner. Consistency is key for seeing results, but it’s also important to continue to challenge the body. Friends suggested that I take megaformer classes a few months into my journey, but I was too intimidated and traumatized from a previous negative experience.
I struggled with some elements in the basic classes I was in, but others I was breezing through. Now, I have a cross-training approach: level up once I’ve mastered the majority of the moves, and for anything I still struggle with (for me, bridge exercises and teasers can be challenging) do special workouts in the gym or at home to strengthen those specific muscle groups.
Part of the issue was that my weight makes certain moves more challenging. Bridging will likely be easier when I weigh less, for example. But for non-bodyweight baring exercises, I was on beast mode in the beginner-level classes.
The great thing about megaformer workouts is that it is nearly impossible to “max out” the resistance. In my first classical Pilates studio, I was doing my legwork with all the springs on by the time I’d left. In my megaformer classes, it is unlikely that I’ll ever get to that point.
“Is it Worth the Investment?”
When I first started Pilates, making that much of an investment in my fitness routine was something that gave me pause. Especially starting with months of private classes. However, I thought of the times when I’d signed up for state-of-the-art gyms but didn’t go because I was too intimidated, anxious, tired, etc. I thought of my friend who —after about a year of consistent Pilates and hard work on her company —was able to sell it and purchase a property in The Hamptons. I also thought of my commitment to my future goals. The type of wife and mother I want to be, and how I want to feel in my body as I continue through life. My Pilates practice has shown me how pleasurable fitness and self care can be. And that happiness has been attracting friends, collaborators and admirers both online and IRL.
In short, yes, it was definitely worth the investment! My Pilates practice is something I plan on continuing for the rest of my life. It brings me immense joy. I’m worth it, and so are you.
For a guide to your first Reformer Pilates class, click here.
