A man from County Armagh who was once given just two weeks to live says reformer Pilates has transformed his health.
Shane Murray, 49, from Crossmaglen, was diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2022. At that time, his condition was critical, and doctors estimated he had only about two weeks to live.
Now, more than two years later, Shane no longer needs an oxygen tank. He says the Pilates classes have helped his breathing, mobility, and recovery far more than he expected.
Reformer Pilates is a full-body workout performed on a machine called a reformer. It uses resistance to build strength, improve posture, and increase flexibility. The workout has grown popular recently as a low-impact exercise that targets muscles in ways traditional workouts do not.
Shane, a father of four, admitted he was initially skeptical. He thought Pilates was “not a man thing.”
He said his daughter, Shauna, encouraged him to try it after she opened The Well, a Pilates studio in Crossmaglen.
“I started reformer Pilates about five months ago,” Shane said. “Before I began, I was very nervous. I didn’t think I’d be able to do it. Honestly, I didn’t think it was for men.
“But I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Now, I look forward to my classes with Shauna every week. I go with a friend, and we laugh and have fun for an hour while Shauna pushes us.”
Shane explained that the exercise eased his symptoms both mentally and physically. It also helped him become more active.
“Before Pilates, I couldn’t sleep at night because of cramps in my legs and pain in my joints. Those cramps have eased now. I sleep much better. I feel fitter and just better overall, both mentally and physically.
“Everyone’s journey is different, but for me, Pilates has made a huge difference.”
He added, “There’s a quote on the wall at The Well: ‘The greatest wealth is health.’
“When you face something like cancer, that hits home. You realize how much it means just to be able to move, to breathe, and to feel stronger.”
Shauna Murray opened The Well in February. She discovered reformer Pilates a few years ago while recovering from a serious back injury.
While working on a marketing apprenticeship and running a beauty business, Shauna found reformer Pilates was not easily available locally. She decided to open a studio in the square in Crossmaglen.
“Movement has always been important to me,” she said. “I started competitive Irish dancing at age three. It taught me discipline and body awareness but caused a back injury that almost needed surgery.
“Through strength training and reformer Pilates, I avoided the operation and am now pain-free.
“I wanted to bring these benefits to my community.”
Shauna explained that reformer Pilates is not just a passing trend. She challenged the idea that Pilates is only for women, emphasizing it is for everyone.
“While it is still more popular with women, more men and athletes are joining. We see GAA players, busy mothers, people recovering from injury, and those who just want to feel better in their bodies.
“My grandmother is in her late sixties and comes to classes three times a week.
“From younger women to athletes to older clients like my nanny, the common goal is to move well and feel strong.
“For GAA players, Pilates is becoming essential for a longer career in the sport. It fills gaps that traditional strength training misses. They realize that caring for their bodies off the field is just as important as training on it.”
Shauna added, “People now see wellness as more than just pushing themselves with high-intensity workouts. Pilates works, and the results speak for themselves.”
