“Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it." ~Plato

The line of positivity lives somewhere between the ability to set goals and to the ability to let things be as they are. The subtle yet precise balance point lets things happen for you with grace. It takes courage to envision a better world for yourself and the widest circle you can cast and act in faith that even though you can’t see down the road, you trust that the road will come up to meet you. This is not a path for the weak-hearted or, for that matter, those that are weakly embodied.

Not really living in one’s body allows you to make all kinds of bad choices that being grounded and strong helps you avoid. The most effective form of anti-aging that I have uncovered is physical fitness. I don’t think I have enjoyed the firm, strong and supple ability to move and hold myself ever before in my life as I currently do with Pilates 2-3 times a week. If any single factor in my life gives me a wider access to my libido and arousal mechanism, it has been feeling solid in my structure.

It is odd to have waited the better half of a lifespan, assuming I live nearly 100 years, to finally have developed sculpted arms and impressively firm abs. But it is a solace as I deal with the inevitable skin stretching to the weight of gravity and fatigue. Of course I have my fair share of skin magic formulas, but still when I see my face as an extension of my body, my view of myself shifts a bit, leaning gently towards me — instead of away.

Working on your body builds not only your physical muscles, but in even deeper ways, trains your mind. Exercise lets you see how much effort you can handle and helps you learn how to move with strength from your center. Learning where your center is and developing the sensibility to distinguish the many groups of muscles that hold you up is empowering. This is when building strength in the body is synonymous with a strong mind and more courageous heart.

The capacity for intimacy itself is more bold when you have core strength in your pelvis. Building the pelvic floor muscles and the surrounding muscle groups gives you both a base to move from and the power to hold onto someone. Getting a back ache from active sex should teach you something. Not even being able to get really active because you are afraid you will hurt yourself should sound a fitness alarm. That is what happened to me. That is what got me started at Pilates almost 3 years ago.

Those training sessions are some of the most positive hours of my week.