AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE.

I have been officially discharged from physical therapy, 30 weeks after the spinal fusion. It has been a wonderful experience made better by a knowledgeable physical therapy clinic and a fantastic Pilates instructor. Because of this, I have healed faster than I could have imagined, and I have learned new ways of moving and strengthening my body to prevent further damage to my spine.

During the last six weeks of PT I was doing 30-minute Pilates sessions with Shane, two to three times a week. One day, just to see what would happen, Shane had me do an hour session. Not only was I able to handle it, the hour went by in a flash. (I have determined that the reason I can commit to Pilates as a form of exercise is because one spends much of the time doing it while lying down. You just can't beat it). We decided that since my insurance was only willing to pay for two more physical therapy sessions, we would do two more half-hour sessions, register me as a private client, and move forward with one-hour sessions that I will pay for out-of-pocket.

I cannot give a full account of my Pilates sessions and how central they have been to my recovery without throwing in some information about Shane, Pilates Instructor Extraordinaire. At 28, Shane is a certified Pilates instructor - she can do the splits on a reformer that will make your jaw drop. Before becoming an instructor, she was a Vegas showgirl in some of the classic Vegas productions. Growing up as a dancer with a degree in dance performance, she has those long, lean lines you usual see on a dancer's body, but she is strong. Behind those lean muscles are some serious fire power! She runs or swims or cycles everyday and to me embodies everything that is looking and feeling fit. When I die, I want to come back with her body. Bolted Bionic Husband would like that too.

Beside being a knowledgeable instructor, Shane has a warm, inviting personality and the ability to motivate you in a way that works for you. I always look forward to class and never get that "I don't want to go" feeling. Since working with her my legs have become incredibly strong and I see muscle where there was none before. My arms are stronger and have taken shape. My tushy actually has some lift (after years of buying the same brand of jeans, I had to buy a different brand this year that would accommodate a more "pronounced" booty). And my abdominal core is stronger and has some definition - I have noticed the muscles engaging and protecting my back during the most basic of movements, and I often feel as if I am wearing a protective corset that supports my body and my posture.

So when my physical therapy sessions had to come to an end (thanks Bolted Bionic Health Insurance Company!), it was an easy decision to continue to do Pilates with Shane, even if it is an out-of-pocket expense at a time when money is tight. I look at it as a continued investment in a body that can now be monetarily valued at more than $150,000. But the value of feeling strong and living without pain? Priceless.