Progress Over Perfection: The Key to a Consistent Practice

Have you ever caught yourself comparing your movements to someone else’s, frustrated that you don’t look as “perfect” as they do? You’re not alone. So many people get caught up in the idea of executing an exercise flawlessly, but what if I told you that striving for perfection is actually holding you back?

One of the biggest things I notice when I teach Pilates is how focused people are on getting every movement perfect. They want their Teaser to look like the person next to them, their Hundred to be just as sharp, and their form to be flawless from day one. But here’s the thing—I don’t believe in perfection when it comes to movement. And maybe that’s exactly why I’m creating my own exercise method, COURLATES. Because the truth is, perfection never creates a consistent habit.

Our bodies are always changing. One day, you might feel strong and powerful, and the next, your body might be telling you to slow down. We all go through different seasons, different experiences, and our movement practice should reflect that. If we could just shift our mindset from perfection to progress, we would all be much happier in our movement journeys.

Yes, Teaser has a goal. Yes, it has a "look" that we work toward. But not everyone’s Teaser is going to look the same, and that’s okay. It’s still Teaser for your body. I see clients get in their heads, frustrated that they don’t look a certain way, and they end up missing the joy of movement altogether. To me, that’s wild! Not being proud of what your body can do on any given day is such a missed opportunity for growth and self-celebration.

Some days, I don’t feel like the strongest version of myself. Some days, I’m just having a rough time, and I need to find a little joy. Moving my body—not to be perfect, but to give what I can—helps me find that. That’s what I remind my clients: What do you have in your practice today? Challenge yourself, but never to the point of injury or frustration.

Move for enjoyment. Move for happiness. Move for clarity. Move for peace.

Don’t just move to move. Move to feel alive.