Hey there! I haven't introduced myself, but I joined a while back and have been slowly adding the beginner course workouts to my routine. I started looking into pilates last fall and been trying what seems like a million different teachers and types of pilates from classical to contemporary to fusions to see what feels best in my body and resonates with me. I've been a massage therapist for 27 years and its taken a toll on me physically (mostly elbows and wrists) but I limit my daily treatments and incorporate different modalities where I can. I am also 47 years old and perimenopausal and experience some diffuse joint pain, not debilitating by any means, but enough that I notice it. So I've been seeking out new forms of movement that don'tstress me but also help keep me strong and mobile, especially in my spine! So grateful to be here! Lesley

I'm a little confused as to whether I am engaging my core correctly. I get the pelvic muscles, but having a problem with understanding the abdomen muscles. There are several ways I can engage my abdomen muscles. 1. I can suck my belly button in as hard as I can. Which I believe pulls my diaphragm in and up. 2. I can tense my muscles up as if I was going to cough. 3. I can also tense my muscles up as though I was preparing to be hit in the stomach. (very similar to number 2) I am not sure if any of them are correct? Also, when doing the swan exercise I find on peeling my chest up off the ground I am pushing my stomach muscles out to be tense and not inwards. One other thing I find occasionally is breathing in or out while my core is tense difficult. Ha ha and that's most of the time during the Pilates exercises. Any advice would be appreciated.

Russ, Would doing your longer Pilates class help towards lowering cholesterol? I know that diet is important, too. I am a little over on my numbers, but my HDL level is good. I know this isn't cardio but as opposed to sitting would a longer Pilates session help with this? Thanks & hope you've been doing well.