I CAN'T TOUCH MY TOES.

"I can't touch my toes" are words I have heard many times over the years.

You don't need to be able to touch your toes to do Pilates. Instead work with the body you have to enhance your quality of movement and function.

Not being able to perform what appears to be a simple movement while witnessing how easy it is for others can feel discouraging and can be a barrier to practising Pilates.

I am here to tell everyone who feels this way that you don't need to be able to touch your toes.

You certainly don't need to be super flexible or bendy in order to practise movement. This is not what it's about.

It's about working with the body you have to enhance movement quality and function.

It's about connecting with your body and building awareness.

It's about building good habits that enhance your physical and mental well-being.

We are all different. Not just in shape, size and form but also how we move. The habits and the patterns we acquire through time as well as many other factors have an impact on our movement.

Even as a teacher there are some movements I struggle with - and that's alright.

So, next time you find yourself comparing your body movements to others while attending a movement class or scrolling social media, remember - YOU DON'T HAVE TO TOUCH YOUR TOES.

Author: Dalia El Zeinaty - Founder of Wellness Pilates