That's how Ben describes the low point of his recovery from Long Covid and chronic fatigue, before he found his way to Six Physio in 2021. Before becoming unwell, CrossFit and Strongman training had been a big part of his life. By the time he joined Six's Pilates classes, he was struggling with routine, everyday activities, and even those first sessions felt challenging.

Can Pilates help with Long Covid and chronic fatigue?

Pilates can be a useful starting point for Long Covid and chronic fatigue recovery, because it allows movement to be introduced gradually and adjusted to what the body can manage on any given day. For Ben, that gradual approach mattered more than anything else. Progress needed to be slow, and for someone naturally inclined to push himself, that was not always easy.

"The Six Physio team quickly got to know me and got the measure of me. They understood quite quickly that I like to push myself too quickly and too hard."

Sometimes that meant encouragement to try a little more. At other times, it meant a gentle reminder to slow things down, and an explanation of why. Over time, Ben began to understand his body differently, building confidence in when he could move forward and when he needed to pull back.

A turning point in Pilates-led recovery

One Pilates class with Karina became an important marker in Ben's recovery. For the first time, he finished the session without feeling completely wiped out.

"I felt I was turning a corner."

Hear what happened next

In the video, Ben shares more about the journey that followed, the role the Six team played along the way, and what it has meant to start finding his way back to the things he loves.