Look Mom, No Hands: A Mother’s Day Message from Anchor to Life Pilates

College went by QUICK!

How Pilates Helps Us Navigate Mother’s Day and Every Other Season

Being a mom has been one of the most important, challenging, and rewarding hats I’ve ever worn. And like Pilates itself, motherhood isn’t static—it shifts, evolves, and asks us to show up differently over time. As my son gets ready to graduate from Georgia Southern University (go Eagles!), I find myself both proud and uncertain. It seems like just yesterday that my husband and I were packing him up and watching him leave the nest. As he gets ready to graduate, I’m learning how to let go just enough so he can find his wings—and fly.

Letting go is its own kind of strength. Watching your child step into adulthood is both beautiful… and terrifying. There’s so much uncertainty. The self-doubt creeps in. Did I do enough? What if they fall?

So I’ve started asking myself different questions:

What if… I did the best I could at that moment in time?

What if… failure isn’t the end, but the beginning of learning?

What if… we come out stronger on the other side?

The “Look Mom, No Hands” Challenge

This Mother’s Day, I’m inviting you to take on a small but mighty challenge:

Get up from the floor without using your hands.

Check out the video below I shared at a recent Alpharetta Business Association event and give it a try!

Can You Get on/off the Ground without your hands?

This deceptively simple move—used in the Sit-to-Rise Test—requires mobility, core strength, balance, and stability. In fact, research shows those with the lowest scores were 5–6x more likely to experience early mortality than those who moved with ease.

So yes, this is fun—but it’s also serious.

Let’s not wait for a fall to decide it’s time to take action.

Pilates plays a vital role in helping you maintain this ability—by building control, breath, and strength from the inside out. That’s why I do what I do.

Pilates and Menopause: A Powerful Pairing

Check Out This Episode on Pilates and Menopause.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an Anchor to Life Pilates newsletter without a nod to menopause.

I recently joined yogi Katie Ewaskiew on her podcast to talk about how Pilates supports women in menopause, especially when it comes to nervous system regulation, pelvic floor health, and maintaining strength as hormones shift.

Listen here:

Pilates & Menopause Podcast with Katie Ewaskiew

A Class of One—with a Whole Lot of Heart

Love That This Client Showed UP!

A couple of weekends ago, I sponsored my neighborhood’s Home & Garden Expo and taught a Pilates class. Only one person showed up—but she was exactly the right person.

She’s a mom. She’s a mom-to-be. And she shows up to every session with joy, curiosity, and openness. Her presence reminded me that one connection can be everything.

Impact isn’t about the numbers—it’s about showing up.

Happy Mother's Day

Mother’s Day can be the motherload of emotions—joy, stress, grief, celebration, and everything in between.

One of the books I’ve been loving lately is The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. Her message?

Let them.

Let your mother be who she is. Let your child be who they are. Let go of control and focus on what you can do—your breath, your movement, your path.

So wherever you are in your relationship with motherhood—whether you’re a mom, missing your mom, celebrating your mom, or holding space for a more complex relationship—take this day to honor yourself.

You’re strong. You’re resilient. And you’re still here.

Here’s a photo of my mom and me—my biggest cheerleader and greatest support.

My Mom Has Always Been There for Me.

Let’s pause, breathe, and thrive—together.

Yours in longevity, empowerment, and thriving,

Amanda Curd

Anchor to Life Pilates & Nutrition