Finding My Core:
Sit-Ups, Self-Discovery, and Slight Humiliation
Let’s be honest: I didn’t join Pilates because I love fitness. I joined because I was fed up of nearly falling over every time I bent down to pick up the dog poo.
But somewhere between the awkward breathing, the embarrassment, and the instructor (also called Andrea, because it’s a funny old world) saying, “Simple stuff done well,” I noticed something strange. I wasn’t just feeling stronger—I was feeling more me.
I found my core.
Not just the bit that’s supposed to help you sit up without flailing—but the part inside that says, this is who I am. And, as it turns out, it had been there all along, buried under busyness, self-doubt, and the occasional croissant (OK, more than occasional).
Years ago, I was a young, fit physio working in paediatrics, helping a lovely teenage boy recover from Guillain-Barré Syndrome. He’d been through the wringer—ventilator, paralysis, the works. Slowly, with months of physio, he started to get better. One day, I suggested some sit-ups. He nailed them. I…… did not.
Weeks later, his mum casually let slip:
"When we’re having a rough day, we watch that video of our son doing better sit-ups than his physio. It gives us a good laugh."
Not exactly a career high, but I didn’t mind. That laughter was part of their healing.
Fast-forward to now, and I’m the one on the mat, quivering like jelly during roll-ups. But this time, I’ve stuck with it. Not because I’m naturally sporty (I’m not) or because I’ve suddenly developed a six-pack (I definitely haven’t), but because I’ve started to get curious about my physical and personal core.
“Simple stuff done well” has become a bit of a mantra for me. And it turns out, it’s just as useful for life as it is for Pilates.
As I’ve focused on building strength in my actual core, I’ve also begun exploring my emotional and spiritual centre. What really matters to me? What keeps me balanced?
Faith is part of it—those quiet moments to pray, reflect, or just call out “help.” Creativity is also part of it—grabbing a paintbrush or doodling in a notebook, just for me. And connection, whether through my community group (KCC) or chatting with someone over an allotment fence.
I came across two great reads recently that helped me articulate this more clearly:
Mike Abramowitz's blog talks about reconnecting with your core self—the version of you that exists before the expectations and noise.
The Latus Group article offers a practical guide for tuning in to what energises and grounds you.
One of their tips is to list your values. I tried it. In my top values are compassion, creativity, community, and chocolate. (I may have added the last one, it alliterates.)
“You don’t have to do the fancy stuff. You just have to know what matters and show up for it—wobbly plank and all.”
So maybe you don’t need a Pilates class (though if you’re near me, big shout out to Andrea, my instructor—legend). Maybe your sit-up moment looks different. But I’d encourage you to ask: What is at my core? And how can I make space for that in my everyday?
Do something simple. Do it well. And if your dog walks end with more grace and less tripping, well, that’s a bonus.
“Our physical core helps us move through life. But our inner core? That’s what helps us stay upright when life throws us off balance.”
I’d love to know—what’s at your core? What small, simple things help you feel most like you? Drop me a comment or come chat (preferably post-stretch).