I for one, have already achieved Control Balance.
Notice the control and balance I maintain, while son #2 melts down behind me
This is a Super Advanced Pilates exercise called Control Balance. It's horrendously difficult and one of my biggest achievements in 2017. In 2016, I couldn't imagine having the core strength to get into a "rollover position", let alone the flexibility, control, and balance to perform the full exercise. I shocked myself when I was able to do this on my first attempt.
I laughed when I read the name of the exercise during my Mat 2 training, because the movements seemed unattainable and the name was ironic. There are two things escaping me right now- Control of my life/home and balance of work/family/friendships/all other things. In this exercise there are so many opportunities to lose it- the rollover, the leg positioning, the engagement of the core, the stability required by the back and shoulders-combined with the strength of the hip extensors and flexibility of the hip flexors. Plus, having to roll down to a supine position after switching the legs numerous times. Also- you have to breath!
I was so determined to prove my instincts wrong and do this exercise well. I was pretty scared, partially convinced that I would hurt myself. I inhaled deeply, engaged my body to prepare and went for it.
I think this is how I'm going to approach 2018.
2017 was a pretty mixed year. I marched for women's rights with my daughter. I called senators and members of congress. I shared extremely personal struggles in my writing. I took on a new personal challenge by studying to become a clinical Pilates instructor. I returned to work as a music teacher after two years of maternity/childcare leave. But there have been challenges. The end of the year saw a deepening of my depression and anxiety. The world has become a more frightening place in the last 12 months- or truthfully, maybe I was just awoken to the state of affairs as they have always been. I've been insecure as a mother and as a partner, feeling an increased sense of guilt as I've tried to adjust to working outside of the home. I'm overwhelmed with it all.
Honestly, I don't know that I will ever find complete control and balance in my life. But I'm just going to inhale deeply, engage to prepare, and go for it.
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