It’s funny how things work out… #fitness #designer #fashion #pilates #activewear #entrepreneur

Middle school PE. Ugh I can vividly remember how much anxiety I got when it was time for the “captains” (aka the fastest, most athletic boys in class) to pick teams. I prayed so hard that I wouldn’t be picked last, but it didn’t help. No one wanted me. I know it’s just PE, but being last pick made me feel ashamed, unworthy and like I didn’t belong.

Then mile days. I dreaded “The Mile” so much. Again, the competitive nature of the activity (which honestly was a race) gave me so much anxiety. You know, it’s all fun for the ones who are naturally fast, but for me - I can still remember struggling to finish my mile while feeling like hot soup was boiling in my lungs as my classmates were looking on and judging.

And of course, we can’t forget to talk about PE clothes. Eeewwwww. I do not like being told what to wear, especially when the thing I’m forced to wear I’m also being forced to pay for ANDDDD it looks so bad because it’s not made with my (female) body in mind.

All of this combined made me hate PE and associate all exercise in general with negative feelings.

It wasn’t until high school that I discovered Pilates through an informercial (who remembers Mari Windsor Pilates DVDs!?) and had the realization that fitness wasn’t about competing with others, it was about being better than who you were yesterday. The competition was only between you and yourself!

From there, I decided to get certified as a Pilates instructor in college, I began teaching at gyms, and then started a YT channel all based around making fitness fun!

You know, I strongly believe that if PE could offer group exercise and allow students to wear whatever made them feel confident to move, a lot more girls would have a healthier, more positive relationship with exercise earlier on in life. I know for me it would have made all the difference.

♥️Cassey

[madisonwilliamson]

I remember getting yelled at in daycare for not running fast enough in a game of tag football. Guess she thought I just wasn’t trying

[bougie]

I was always last to be picked and the teams would always fight saying things like “you can have her” it really broke my heart

[anooshatapes]

the first part is so relatable honestly. and it’s embarrassing because I’m really bad at it. glad you’re successful though!!

[soflou]

I have PE class everyday and I'm not an athletic person so I can relate 110%. I feel like my classmates get demotivated when I get chosen to be in their team 🥲 I embarass myself everyday and I hate it lol I wanna get good so bad but I don't have the confidence.

[boobear]

I was ALWAYS picked last. It was so embarrassing, you could hear the kids laughing and snickering in their teams. It would bring me close to tears every single time. If you’re still in school - be nice to the weird girl.. please. Pick us as your team once in a while. Smile instead of laughing with your friends and looking back at them over and over. Because I was bullied (it goes far worse than not being picked for teams) I suffer with extreme mental issues. I get panic attacks at least once a week, and the depression I felt growing up was so hurtful, I attempted suicide and nearly got what I wanted. I go to college now and the anxiety I feel even stepping into a somewhat school environment is enough to make me hyperventilate, fall to the floor, sob and shake uncontrollably. I was traumatized by these kids. A smile, a kind gesture, a compliment, was enough to make my entire week. You have no idea the power you hold. Be kind to the weirdos.

[AundreasJournal]

In high school I never felt comfortable in those shorts so I would bring sweatpants to PE. The teacher got so upset that he gave me a D. The next semester they changed the policy and you were allowed to wear sweatpants. I took that grade with pride lol😂

[someone]

I relate to this so much. Most of the stress around PE and sports for kids is the social pressure, not the actual activity!

[inhobiswinecellar]

the fact that blogilates got picked last for a team actually makes me feel a tad better

[tiffanyn]

I've always hated PE, being the burden in groups made me felt so bad. I hated how slow i was at running. It's been 3 years since my last mandatory PE lesson and the anxiety still exists.

[ashlay]

idk if this is out of your range, but Ik you can literally do anything: can you make cute racing suits for us swim girlies?

edit: and those for dance and gymnastics girlies :)

[doraniii]

I just hated the changing rooms. I was always the only black girl in there with clothes and shoes that weren’t always name banded so they thought my clothes were tacky and ugly. Shit was even more awkward because the other girls wouldn’t stop staring at me every time I had gym. I wish you were a designer ages ago mannnn😂

[jD-cxnd]

you’re amazing😭😭 please consider making cute & supportive leotards for us ballet girlies ill give you my money ASAP

[JWJWJWJW]

I hated gym. I did NOTHING but sit and talk to friends, I got As and Bs but was constantly being berated by my teacher. I got tired of it and tried to participate, walked/jogged ran around with friends and tried to have fun even if it was boring and I was given Cs and Ds! I was so mad, I pretty much refused to participate after that. Mind you I was athletic and was on a crew team at the time but I sucked at cardio lol. Still suck at cardio tbf but having a bum knee makes it hard to work out the way I used to.

[brynned]

this is actually so relatable!! i’m not planning on designing active wear or anything necessarily, but i used to feel so discouraged in PE when i was younger because i wasn’t super athletic or competitive, so no one ever wanted me on their team, or constantly yelled at me when i wasn’t fast enough/didn’t know what to do. but after realizing how much fun working out can be when i’m not under pressure from others— i.e. weight-lifting, yoga— i’ve started to genuinely enjoy working out finally!!

[systemerror]

I remember in middle school PE they would have us run a mile each week, and I always ended up failing it and it really brought me down. I even talked to my PE teachers about it and they just told me I wasn’t trying hard enough. It made me feel really bad, and that I wasn’t good enough at it. But now I pace myself and can definitely run a mile per week if I chose! It all takes time, you can’t just sprint a mile and be fine if you’ve never done it before, you need to take your time and slowly work up to it.

[cookie_craft]

I was always picked last but luckily we got a new teacher who says we have to do our own teams and she made it fair. Because of her PE is way more fun that it ever was and ur vids always motivate me to be more active❤

[linoshiddencats]

Whenever we're playing any game, I'm the one to get yelled at when I couldn't catch a ball in volleyball or basketball 😭

[werallgnnadieintheend]

Guys... she's no ordinary being, she's passionate and active on her passion

[chubbydinosaur]

I always loved PE until 7th grade, my health started to go downhill and the new PE teacher (who clearly had an ED) was obsessed with making us run for the entire hour. Seeing the fat, asthmatic kid with tachycardia (me) suffer gave her so much pleasure. I would actually get sick from her classes and asked my doctor to write her a letter that she can't do that to me bc yada yada yada. I gave her the letter and it seemed all sorted out until one day when she got into one of her moods again and made us run, I did my best but when I told her I had to stop, she pulled the letter out of her pocket and tore it up in front of my face.... that was so weirdly dramatic. That lady had issues 👀

[JennsCorner]

The ONLY redeeming part about PE for me WAS the clothes lol nice loose top and comfy shorts. Alot of girls I knew would take them home to wash them and wear them around the house and on weekends. We had the option to get shorts that were sweatpants material too. 👌🏽