Feel Stronger and Confident in our New "Intro to Mat Pilates" Workshop
- Laura Bond Williams
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 1 hour ago
Starting a new exercise routine means creating your own momentum. We know the feeling of getting out of bed, checking the phone and our calendar, and wondering when—or if—you’ll fit in some exercise.
Whether your calendar is full from morning to night or it's completely unscheduled, you may feel stuck over what to do and when. An inner critic says "you have to do something." (Helpful? Maybe, maybe not.) And it's easy to feel overwhelmed by options. In Austin, Texas, especially in South Austin, we’re lucky to have access 24-hour gyms and big clubs with dozens of choices, many boutique gyms and studios for yoga, barre, Pilates, kick-boxing and more; plus running clubs, cycling at the Austin Veloway by the Wildflower Center, or mountain biking and hiking on the Violet Crown Trail. You may even drive by CrossFit boxes and coach-led parking lot workouts from sunrise to sunset.
(And should we even mention the infinite stream of exercise videos online?)
Why We Feel Stuck When We Think About Exercising
It’s easy to get stuck trying to make the "right" choice—which is why you might not make a choice at all.
When you think about exercising, a part of your brain may decide it's a threat. That's because exercise uses mental and physical energy and creates discomfort. And our brain prefers pleasure, ease and energy conservation.
That's why the hardest part of starting a new routine isn't the exercise. It's the way we're thinking about it before, during and after.
It’s that self-defeating inner voice and its opinions on how you’re doing. It’s the sneaky, harmful way you talk to yourself when you think your body or your habits aren't "where they should be."
There’s really only one decision that matters: deciding you want to feel better in your body.
Make that choice first. Then, try different ways of moving and fill in the details.
And if you walked upright from your bedroom to the kitchen today, you have core and leg strength to work with.
Deciding to exercise more often is always a net positive change for your health and fitness.
That’s why I created the Intro to Mat Pilates Workshop. Learning Pilates is not about "toning," "lengthening," or "fancy stretching." Pilates teaches us ways to move with intention, confidence, curiosity, and a massive dose of self-acceptance. We begin by learning to apply control and strength in our current range of motion, while improving body awareness and overall well-being.
Doing Pilates is a Way to Stop Thinking You "Should" Exercise and Start Feeling Like Someone Who Does
The Mat Pilates ATX Intro to Mat Pilates Workshop is a three-week series designed for you to get moving and see how Pilates feels for you. We start where you are so that you become a stronger, more energized version of you immediately.
In this workshop, you will:
Learn the Mat Pilates Fundamentals: Practice breath, concentration and control while building core strength with 12 Mat Pilates exercises that you can do daily to feel better.
Build a Repeatable Habit: Create a 15-minute home practice that fits into your day.
Befriend the Inner Critic: Learn to interrupt thoughts like "why am I so weak?" and transform them into an empowering inner guide.
Gain Real Confidence: Get personalized attention that you can use in any group class to feel confident and make great choices for your body and goals.
Intro to Mat Pilates Workshop Details
We’ll meet on Friday mornings at 7:30 a.m. Choose the series that fits your schedule—or sign up for both and launch your summer of feeling great!
April Series: April 3, 10, and 17, 2026
May Series: May 2, 9, and 16, 2026
Bonus: You’ll also receive an 8-foot extra-light elastic band and access to home practice videos to keep your momentum going between sessions.
What Our Students Say
"I love taking Pilates with Laura! She is incredibly encouraging and patient... I always leave feeling stronger and more energized."
”Mat Pilates ATX has made me feel stronger! My hip is better. My knee is better. I move better!”
Ready to get moving with Pilates?
Let’s turn your curiosity into a habit that makes you feel amazing all week long.
Sign up for Class Here (Click "Sign up for Class" then "Book Your Group Class" → April Intro Mat Pilates)
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