job! PHYSICAL
CLAIRE CHITHAM PILATES
At 24, actress Claire Chitham thought she had missed her chance to become a person who exercised. But after being cast in a play, she decided she needed to build stamina to make it through a gruelling theatre season. Now a qualified Pilates teacher, the former Shortland Street star is happy she found exercise when she did.
“I thought I was coming to the exercise party really late at the age of 24, but now I’m 42, I’m so grateful because I’ve got all of this strength in my body.”
Claire was sold when after six months of doing Pilates, she had completely transformed her shape and had grown five centimetres by engaging unused muscles and correcting her posture. It was life-changing and a year later, when she left Shorty, she decided to train as an instructor.
“I became strong for the first time in my life, and I remember feeling really good and empowered. Kind of like, Spice Girls’ Girl Power!” laughs Claire. “I was like, ‘I want to learn this information and have it with me forever.’”
Not only does Claire credit Pilates with keeping her physically fit, but the principles of the practice also give her the tools to deal with stress in all areas of her life.
“You’re taught to use your breath to support difficult things. Instead of holding your breath when you’re stressed, you learn to breathe through stress. And that is something that I carry with me all the time.”
The once self-described “unfit girl” can relate to people who struggle to keep a consistent workout routine. But her best advice is, “The biggest obstacle to people exercising is themselves. If you think you’re meant to go to a gym but you hate gyms, don’t go to a gym. Find something that you love.”
She says you may even discover that you love something you previously hated.
“I actually really love running, but I don’t think I could ever have done it if I hadn’t had the strength that I’d built through Pilates.”
‘Now I’m 42, I’m so grateful I’ve got all this strength in my body’