Masking Up for Gyro & Pilates

My poor Gyro and Pilates instructors had to pore through the entire set of regulations and rules in order to keep their group or private classes going. They drop the number of clients they see a day to literally two or three, stagger client hours, separate equipment to ensure no sharing, clean, disinfect and mask up.

The rules are broad-spectrum and frankly not well thought through. No sharing of equipment is easy to work around. The rest. Hmmm. "No such facility will be allowed to offer weight, strength or resistance training of any form, and/or provide equipment for such training, as these are associated with strenuous activities." WALAOEH. Because for the Pilates reformer, if we don't use the springs as mild resistance, the low-intensity exercises become high intensity! Zzzzzz. I can bring my own mat, block and towel, and even the Pilates Arc too. Oof.  

We get why. We just don't get some of the arbitrary rules. But fine, since it's stated, we'll have a think as well. We don't dance around the rules because this affects our health. We use our common sense and hopefully, integrity to do so. My indoor classes are run without air-conditioning, and the patio doors and windows are opened wide to ensure air flow. This is for the health of my instructors too. It's in all our interest to keep well. Falling ill in a pandemic wouldn't just affect one person alone. That's what keeps us responsible. 

"No sharing of equipment, Momma. You go use the wall or something."

Anyway. At least I get to continue with my classes. Modifying the content challenges both the instructor and I. Sometimes, using the equipment makes us lazy. Going equipment free isn't an issue for both. The nature of the program adapts well to no equipment either. Unless one considers a stool as a piece of equipment. I work on strength at home with press-ups, burpees and planks. In class, I work on deep stretches to maintain flexibility and and core strength.   

K is extremely creative when it comes to structuring movements without equipment. I'm rather fearful of her mat pilates content. It can definitely be a workout, so in this climate, she has to 'dumb down' her mat pilates program. Sad huh. A relief for me on lazy days. Hahahah. 

When K put me on extended quad stretches against the wall, I could shriek. OMG. Both quads felt equally tight. Actually my ankles too. Those hurt like f**k. In this stretch, my quads, ankles and hips are too tight to allow my back to flatten against the wall. That was the ideal form. I needed a yoga block to help. The first 30 seconds were excruciating. Clearly not warmed up. So the block was placed horizontally. After a minute, K swopped the block vertical to shorten the distance between my spine and the wall. DAMN PAIN AH!