11-16-2025 MY FAVES: the daily rhythm

 books of the week

this week i read the october edition of vogue adria - which was in whole based on the concept of longevity. last week shared paragraphs of articles i found thought-provoking and inspiring, this week i tie in more about the whitewashing of wellness. particularly with pilates. mind you, i think i've only done 3 classes max. i will say, i was wrong about the history of pilates (not completely, but i was not exactly correct). mr joseph pilates was a prisoner of world war i, and was in a british camp, not wwii. here's more accurate history of pilates, not just based on memory and tiktoks, from the article everyone in unison: pilates! by iva marić:

at first glance, pilates on the reformer—or at least what we see flooded on tiktok and instagram—seems like a new invention. in reality, its foundation was laid by joseph hubertus pilates: as early as 1924 in germany, he patented a “device for physical exercises.” even earlier, during world war i in a british internment camp, he used bed springs to maintain muscle strength, despite nearly impossible conditions for movement. today’s elegant “fitness beds” operate on the same principle: springs providing resistance, controlled instability, and precision.

joseph hubertus pilates, born in 1883, was often sick as a child, which led him to dedicate his life to strengthening body and mind through movement. he called his method “contrology,” a name that clearly shows how central controlled movement and breathing were. in 1945, he published return to life through contrology: a guide to physical and mental balance. his vision was far ahead of what the fitness market offered at the time.

scrolling through tiktok today gives the impression that you must be young, slim, and flexible to practice pilates. this is a misconception—completely opposite to joseph pilates’ inclusive approach. his method was designed for all bodies, at all life stages, regardless of age, gender, or fitness level. exercises could be adapted to individual needs. pilates is therefore equally suitable for young people wanting to develop body awareness and for older adults seeking to maintain mobility. for this reason, pilates instructor tina winderl consciously avoids mirrors in her classes. “i want people to focus on themselves, not on what they see in the mirror,” she says—smart, because healthy body awareness doesn’t come from comparing yourself to others. 

perhaps i try pilates soon too - and as we're inching toward 2026, is longevity and wellness the goal for my annual vision board?

i picked up daisy jones & the six for next book. i started the show a while ago and got somewhere halfway.

 music of the week

i got a super cool birthday gift from sib. she made me a birthday playlist (which i used for my party playlist). sib said it consisted of numerous songs from most of my playlists (what dedication - i have over 300 playlists?!). anyways, if you're looking for a groovy playlist for any party, check out pigeon star!