Finding Home in My Body: How Pilates Supported Me Through Lymphoma Recovery
I’m endlessly grateful for my Pilates practice. No matter what I’ve been through—physically, mentally, or emotionally—it has always brought me home to my body.
A Challenging Beginning: Lymphoma Diagnosis and Chemotherapy
From March through June 2025, I spent four months doing very little. I was confined to a hospital bed for five-day stretches at a time, resting on the couch or in my hammock in between.
When I was first diagnosed with lymphoma and began chemotherapy, I rapidly lost about 30 pounds. I had a chest tube and barely had the energy for short walks. My muscles atrophied quickly, and when I looked in the mirror, I saw a shadow of myself.
After my second chemotherapy cycle, my appetite returned, and I regained the weight—but it was not the same. My PICC line limited my range of motion and prevented me from lifting more than ten pounds. On top of that, fatigue and low energy were constant companions. I often daydreamed about practicing Pilates—massaging my spine and awakening my sedentary muscles.
Lounging in the sunshine in my backyard hammock
Pilates Met Me Where I Was
Even during my weakest moments, Pilates met me exactly where I was. On sleepless nights, I attempted short walks around the hospital and practiced the Series of Five in my bed. When my chest tube was removed in late April, I booked a private lesson immediately.
I felt disconnected from my body and needed a trained eye to check my form. It was freeing to take off my teacher hat and let someone guide the session. I embraced being a student again.
Try the real Series of 5 in this quick stomach series workout!
Rediscovering Strength and Awareness
With each exercise, I became increasingly aware of my weakest areas:
Obliques and intercostals: Weak after being overstretched and cut for medical procedures.
Posterior chain: Nearly nonexistent after months of inactivity.
Balance: My right side felt weaker than my left.
I had to let go of my advanced practice and return to the basics. My levers felt shorter, my range of motion cautious, and my endurance diminished.
Yet, Pilates felt like an old friend. My muscles remembered the patterns, rhythms, and routines of the method, even as I started fresh.
I started small with short mat workouts in the morning on the patio
Returning to the Roots of Classical Pilates
I found a studio ten minutes from my house and invested in small pieces of equipment for home practice:
Folding mat: Moon boxes, dowels, and foot strap allow me to strengthen my mat practice while feeling supported.
Wunda Chair: One of my favorite apparatuses for its challenge and variety.
Spine Corrector: Perfect for finishing workouts with a deep, expansive stretch.
These tools have been essential in regaining strength and reconnecting with my body.
My cozy at-home Pilates studio featuring a folding mat, Wunda chair, spine corrector, and other small props
The Smarter At‑Home Pilates Setup for Strength, Autonomy & Results
Forget the reformer—your at-home Pilates practice doesn’t need expensive, bulky equipment to be effective. In this free guide, you’ll learn how to create a strong, sustainable Pilates setup with smarter, space-friendly tools like the mat, Wunda chair, spine corrector, magic circle, and more. With setup tips, gear recommendations, and a clear breakdown of each apparatus, you’ll see how the original Method was designed to give you strength, flexibility, and control—without taking over your living room or your budget.
Rethinking How I Share Pilates
This journey has made me reconsider how I teach. Filming multiple flows weekly is not my true passion—tailoring the method to the body in front of me is.
Pilates was designed to be individualized. Each body is unique, and corrections must be personalized. Seeing my students live allows me to offer guidance that truly makes a difference. I’m eager to return to live teaching, where I can provide the most effective and tailored Pilates experience.
Check out my live class offerings in Denver, CO and virtually worldwide!
Introducing Pilates Purists
When I created the Spring to Life Method, my goal was to make Pilates more than just fitness. Joseph Pilates designed the method to be intelligent, transformative, and deeply connected to body and mind. Today, Pilates is often diluted or blended with trends.
That’s why I created Pilates Purists:
Refined and True: Keeping the integrity of classical Pilates alive.
Accessible: Modern movers can practice from home.
Individualized: Emphasizing quality, connection, and understanding your body.
Pilates Purists offers classes, private lessons, and memberships to help you move better, feel stronger, and build autonomy in your practice—all from home.
An effective Pilates practice can fit in any space
A Lifeline Through Recovery
Through this journey, Pilates has reminded me that the body remembers, adapts, and heals. It carried me through vulnerability, fatigue, and recovery, and continues to be a home I return to again and again. For that, I am endlessly grateful.
