How to Make Exercise Less Scary

Years ago, I was invited to a midweek social event at a neighbor's house in Circle C Ranch in Southwest Austin. I happily knocked on the door, and her husband answered and said at the last minute, they decided to meet at another house. I got the address, thanked him, and left.

Walking to my car, my mind blew up with a story about why I wasn't meant to go: I don't know them. Though maybe I should. Our kids are the same age. That's what good parents do, right? What if my other neighbors didn't go? Who else would be there? I might know some other people. Will they talk to me? What if they know everybody else? I pictured myself walking into a big beautiful house a couple of miles away. I was sure that I couldn't.

A part of me wanted to connect. I recognized a genuine desire to see my neighbor and meet new people. The other part of me wanted to flee, and I had an anxiety attack.

I'm a sociable introvert in my chosen environments. But anxiety overrides desire -- if I let it.

I decided the way out was through, and I went. I can still see the giant living room full of unfamiliar faces as I walked in the door. (If memory serves, the rest of the evening was fine.)

In hindsight, I am grateful for some:

• Awareness -- I noticed a storm of thoughts stirred me up. How else could I go from having a spring in my step to a panic attack? Nothing else changed, just my thoughts about it.

• Connection to my body -- I didn't fight the anxiety, even when it felt terrible. Underneath it was desire to connect and that was the part of me that needed to be heard.

• Courage -- The worst thing that could happen already did: the panic attack. So once that passed, I decided to do it anyway. And I felt better when I left.

One way to make something new LESS scary is to be honest about what really scares you.

For me, years ago, it was rejection, the feeling that I don't belong there.

So if you're thinking about exercise, what scares you?

It might be the voice that says "you know you should have done this a long time ago."

"This is going take forever."

"Going once isn't going to make much of a difference."

"I've never been very ______________" ["flexible," "graceful," "coordinated," or "athletic"].

It's another shade of rejection. Our own. We reject our possibilities before we begin. When we get to the root of our fears, there we are.

You do not have to believe this when you walk in the door. I'll believe it for you until you do.

Every body can do Pilates and feel stronger and better.

My goal is that your Mat Pilates ATX class is low stakes (emotionally) and high rewards (physically). Where you can move your body, learn new things, meet people, and feel better. We keep the focus on ourselves, what we can do and what we will do in the future.

It's not so scary.

To sign up for mat Pilates class, you can:

1. Text "NOT SCARED" to 512-361-4346

2. Go to Mat Pilates ATX class app link and choose "Book a Class" and follow directions.

For mat class: Please bring a mat that is at least 1/2" or 5/8" thick and preferably sticky or that has a sticky side.