01/02/2026
My 40 Minute Miracle
On Saturday morning on the 11th October 2025, I suffered a stroke. Not a mini stroke or TIA, an actual stroke. No warning signs, I just began sluring - it was a bit like an out of body experience, no pain. I lost control of my speech and it was as though my voice was coming from someone else. My husband’s panicked reaction scared me more than anything else to be honest. The fact that he was even home was miraculous - he works overseas during the week, so the timing was pretty good (if you are going to time these kinds of events) By the time the paramedics arrived, about 20 minutes, I was back to my chatty (mostly ‘unslury’ self), and when they had done all their checks another 20 minutes or so, I was recovered. To the extent that, the paramedics, as well as the A&E doctor were convinced that it was a TIA (the medical acronym for a mini stroke). But the MRI revealed it was an actual stroke, that’s the kind that leaves its mark. Literally. On your brain.
When I got that news I was like what the actual.. . I am 53 years old, healthy weight, a non-smoker and no risk factors like high BP, or diabetes. I reeled off my health regime to the dr including the fact that I walk 5km almost every day, and that I am also a Pilates instructor. ‘How could this happen to ME?’ And if it could happen to me, what’s the point of being healthy? Apparently it was likely (no one knows for sure) that it was thanks to the daily walks and Pilates practice that had facilitated my bounce back. We all know that exercise is good for us, but I was keen to find out how exactly it had helped my body and brain deal with the effects of a stroke -so I dug a little deeper.
What I discovered was that my "health regime" wasn't just about looking good in leggings; it was essentially an insurance policy I’d been paying into for years. Here’s the "science-y" version of why my body didn't get the memo that it was supposed to be incapacitated.
The "Clean Engine" Theory
First, there was the PFO (Patent Foramen Ovale) - essentially a tiny, lingering hole in my heart that should have closed after birth. This was the "back door" that allowed a stray clot to bypass my lungs and head straight for my brain. But because I don’t smoke and I maintain a healthy weight, my arteries were what doctors might call "pristine."
Think of it like a clear highway versus one clogged with roadworks and debris. When that tiny clot hit, my blood vessels were elastic and clear enough to let my body’s natural "clot-busting" enzymes get to work instantly. There was no extra inflammation or plaque to slow them down. My "engine" was clean enough to handle the bypass.
The Power of "Backroads" (Collateral Circulation)
This is where the 5km walks come in. Regular cardio doesn’t just strengthen your heart; it builds a massive network of tiny "backup" blood vessels in the brain called collateral circulation. When the main "highway" was briefly blocked, my brain didn’t panic. It simply rerouted the oxygen through these well-developed "backroads" I’d built during those morning walks. It kept the surrounding brain tissue alive while the main blockage was being cleared.
The Pilates "Software Update"
Then, there’s the Pilates of it all. As an instructor, I’m constantly asking my brain to coordinate complex, precise movements—balancing "mind and body." This builds something called Neuroplasticity. By doing Pilates, I had effectively been "re-wiring" my brain for years, creating a high level of Brain Reserve. When the MRI showed that little mark—the infarct—it meant some cells did die. But because my brain was so used to rerouting signals and finding new ways to move, it likely bypassed the damaged area almost instantly. My "software" was so up-to-date that it patched the glitch before I even made it to the ER.
Closing the Door
So, what was the point of being healthy if I still had a stroke? The point was that my lifestyle turned a potentially life-altering tragedy into a 40-minute inconvenience. I’m now heading for a PFO closure—a simple procedure to "lock the back door" for good. But I’m walking into that hospital knowing that my body is my greatest ally. The "mark" on my brain is there, sure, but thanks to my weekly Pilates practice and daily walking, it’s just a footnote, not the final chapter.
If you’ve ever wondered if that extra Pilates session or that daily walk actually matters—take it from me. It does.
You don't train for the day everything goes right. You train for the day it doesn't. Have you paid into your movement insurance today?
