Finding New Possibilities Through Movement
One of the most rewarding parts of being a Pilates instructor is working with people who are living with or recovering from neurological conditions.
Pilates for stroke recovery can provide a supportive way to practice movement, build body awareness, create a strong foundation and explore new possibilities in daily life. I help clients explore movement with greater awareness and attention to how the body takes in information. This includes the visual system, the balance system in the inner ear, and proprioception—the body’s ability to sense where it is and how it is moving.
I have seen that people with neurological conditions are often capable of more than they have been told. With the right support and an individualized movement program, they can build a stronger connection with their bodies and discover new possibilities for movement and daily life.
Two Inspiring Stroke Survivors
Recently, I have had the honor of working with two remarkable women who survived strokes.
Both women are courageous, determined, and incredibly strong. Each had a stroke during the prime of her life—one at age 36 and the other at age 46. Both were married, raising young children, and working in caring professions. One was a nurse, and the other worked in wellness.
Before their strokes, both women spent their lives caring for others. Their strokes were devastating.
They each completed traditional physical therapy to help them become more independent, improve coordination, and regain important skills such as walking. Both women spoke positively about their physical therapy experiences.
But after they were discharged from therapy, they were left with a similar message:
“This is as good as it gets.”
They wanted more.
They came to me with goals such as:
• “I want to walk better.”
• “I want to use my affected arm more.”
• “I want to feel safer when I walk so I do not fall.”
These may sound like simple goals, but they can mean so much.
Walking better may mean having fewer trips and falls. It may mean feeling safer and more confident in the community. It may mean walking beside a loved one, spending time outside, going to the beach, or moving through the neighborhood without fear of falling or feeling embarrassed.
Using an affected arm more may mean carrying an object, writing a note that others can read, helping with household tasks, or holding a loved one’s hand while walking.
These are everyday activities that many people take for granted—until they become difficult.
Relearning How the Body Moves
After a stroke, a person’s sense of their body may change. They may have trouble feeling where a body part is or understanding how it is moving.
This ability is called proprioception. It is the body’s internal sense of position and movement. After a stroke, this sense may feel unclear or unreliable.
The brain often finds new ways to complete a task. For example, a person may develop a different way to stand, walk, or reach. These changes can be helpful and necessary. They allow the person to keep moving and complete important tasks.
However, these movement strategies may not always feel comfortable, efficient, or connected to the person’s goals.
My role is not to replace medical rehabilitation or physical therapy. Instead, I provide a supportive and individualized space where clients can continue practicing movement.
Together, we work on:
• Noticing how the body is moving.
• Improving awareness of the affected side.
• Practicing movements with greater control.
• Repeating movements with purpose.
• Gradually adding new challenges.
We explore different ways to move and notice whether a new approach feels more stable, comfortable, or accessible.
Building Awareness from the Ground Up
For example, we may begin with the foot.
Using a towel, we can create different sensations by gently rubbing between the toes, wrapping the towel around the foot, and exploring movement through different parts of the foot.
This may help the client notice the toes, heel, and other areas more clearly. Over time, these sensations can help the brain create a clearer picture of the foot.
We may also place the foot on a towel to create a “footprint.” Then we may practice pushing off through the foot while trying not to make the footprint larger or press harder.
During a sit-to-stand exercise, we may focus on feeling the pressure under the feet. The client can then try to maintain that awareness while rising to stand.
These exercises are part of a larger movement process. We are not simply trying to complete an exercise. We are paying attention to how the body organizes movement.
We may ask:
• Does this movement feel stable?
• Does one side feel different from the other?
• Can the movement be done with less effort?
• Does another strategy feel more comfortable or controlled?
The goal is to help the person find movement options that may become easier to use in everyday life.
Every Recovery Is Different
Every stroke recovery is unique. Progress does not always happen in a straight line, and meaningful progress can look different for each person.
It may include:
• Feeling more stable.
• Having greater confidence.
• Using less effort during a task.
• Becoming more aware of the affected side.
• Moving with less fear.
• Feeling more willing to participate in daily activities.
For these two women, this work is about much more than exercise. It is about reclaiming movement, choice, connection, and possibility.
It is about becoming more fully themselves.
I am grateful that they came to me, and I am honored that they trusted me to support them.
A Final Thought
Be careful when someone places limits on what you believe is possible.
Medical professionals, family members, and even our own fears may sometimes lead us to believe that change is no longer possible. While recovery should always be approached safely and realistically, we should not assume that progress has ended.
We may not know what is possible until we continue to explore, practice, and try