DEAR Jasminda,
I have recently joined a pilates group for relaxation.
There is one particular attendee who makes a lot of loud noises during the class, which is ruining my ability to relax. Can I say something?
Belinda N.
DEAR Belinda,
Having attended Pilates classes, I have some sympathy for the grunter and groaner.
Though most of us try to make these sounds internally, Pilates, in its aim to increase flexibility and core strength, can be excruciating for bodies that are used to being hunched over at a desk.
The attendee you mention is probably discovering just how inflexible they are.
It is not unusual to witness a Pilates follower hopping around the room because of a cramp after trying to execute what feels like 500 leg circles.
Alternatively, they may be exhaling with frustration after losing focus while trying to remember to breathe, simultaneously focusing on the rib to hip connection, drawing in the pelvic floor muscles, and trying not to knock over their water bottle during a flamboyant attempt at the supine spine twist.
May I suggest that you observe where the grunter and groaner positions themselves (exercisers commonly have a favourite spot on the floor) and then move as far away as you can so you can enjoy a more relaxed experience.
Perhaps, once you are adept at the exercises in your Pilates class, you could wear a discreet pair of earbuds.
If it makes you feel any better, the sounds in a Pilates class pale in comparison to those on the gym floor.
There you will find a veritable smorgasbord of grunters and moaners and whimperers and howlers. It sometimes sounds like a footy scrum at a funeral.
Persist, Belinda.
The flexibility you gain in a physical sense may also extend to your mental elasticity.
Soon you may find that you are more tolerant to the exercise quirks of the grunter and groaner, who may be doing so as a response to the woman who always scowls at her while she is simply trying to execute the Double Leg Stretch.
Carpe diem, Jasminda.
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