I know the title alone probably makes you pause for a second. Trust me, I get it. But hear me out. I don’t care if it’s a friend, a lover, a job, a politician, come what may — I am seeing my goals to fruition.
At this point in my life — basically on the other side of 30 — I’ve decided that I’m no longer willing to let anyone or anything dictate whether I pursue things I deeply want. I’ve reached a place where I refuse to keep placing my dreams on hold.
Sure, I could’ve waited until I had more consistent income and could comfortably afford my Pilates certification program outright. Probably. That would’ve been the more practical decision.
But I also knew I could say yes now and trust myself (and God and my resourcefulness) to figure the rest out along the way.
And that’s exactly what I did.
I won’t romanticize it. Choosing to invest in something expensive (like yourself) while navigating financial uncertainty gets stressful at times. There are days I feel overwhelmed. Days I question myself, cry about it. But even in those moments, I remain incredibly proud of myself for finally saying yes to something I wanted for years and pursuing it wholeheartedly, despite the fear.
Deciding to become a Pilates instructor was already an uphill battle internally. So once I made peace with that decision, the payment plan didn’t scare me nearly as much as continuing to delay my own life.
This experience is even more meaningful for me recognizing how inaccessible wellness spaces can sometimes feel — especially since I didn’t traditionally see themselves reflected in them. So much of the Pilates and boutique fitness world is marketed toward a very specific image, lifestyle, and income bracket. And while I absolutely appreciate beauty, aesthetics, and feminine wellness culture, this journey means more to me than simply stepping into another “pretty girl” role.
It’s more than a me thing.
This is about proving it to myself. And about building a skill set that can genuinely serve and uplift my community. It’s about becoming the kind of instructor who makes people feel seen, welcomed, and capable the moment they come into a class with me.
I’m not writing this as financial advice, and I’m certainly not encouraging people to irresponsibly overextend themselves. I’m simply documenting a very personal moment in my life — one where I stopped waiting for the ideal circumstances before taking a leap of faith.
I want the next wave of middle-class Black and brown instructors entering wellness spaces to not hesitate because of potential barriers that may exist around you. We deserve to take up space here too. We deserve to become leaders, educators, healers, and inspirations within our communities.
Yes, wellness education can be expensive. Yes, the road can feel intimidating. But sometimes resourcefulness, faith, and commitment become part of the curriculum too, and we find a way to see it through. I wasn’t trying to rhyme so much..
Note to self: you got this!
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