I don’t know how to say this politely, so I’m just going to say it: I’m pretty proud of my butt.
Ok, don’t laugh. There’s a reason for this.
You see, I’m a Steber (that’s my maiden name), and there are a couple of genetically quirky facts about Stebers:
- Our second toe is longer than our big toe. This is a common occurrence apparently called Morton’s toe. Actually, we just have really long toes. People may have called my sister’s toes “dwarf fingers.”
- We have no butts. Seriously, we have very flat, almost non-existent gluteuses maximuses (glutei maximi??).
Droopy bottoms on swimsuits are common in my family.
An aunt and her son (my cousin) and his adorable baby girl.
But not me! Always the one to buck a trend, my third toe is longer than my second which, according to some radio station, means I am “energetic and ingenious, particularly at work.” I’m ingenious people! 😉
I also have a tush. It’s small, but there’s some junk in my trunk! And it’s all thanks to my time at Pilates in Holland. Now all the gentle ribbing between family members won’t apply to me. No more “Do you need a belt to hold those pants up?”
This isn’t just vanity. It’s about reducing my chronic low back pain and having proper strength and power so I don’t overuse my hip flexors while walking. Last summer I broke my foot and when I started walking during recovery, I had significant knee pain. The cure? Strengthening my glutes after a prolonged period of inactivity. Your glute max is also a main stabilizer and an important component of balance and stability. And let’s not forget comfort while sitting in a wooden pew at church. 🙂
Glute work can happen on the mat, Reformer, or lots of other ways. Mandy shows us some Reformer options you’ll experience in the Pilates in Holland studio.
I will never be Kim Kardashian (thank goodness!), but I am very happy with where I am. I plan to keep working on keeping my glutes strong to be active and healthy my whole life.
Be well!
Renee
