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Pilates

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I won a set of three one-on-one Pilates sessions at a charity fundraiser a while back, and took my first session yesterday. I liked it even though it didn’t feel too intense (I’m used to working up a big sweat on our rowing machine and Peloton, and the occasional yoga class). The instructor’s studio is right around the corner so it’s super convenient and I’d like to make it a regular thing.

Have many of you made a practice of Pilates and how has it helped you? Even though it didn’t feel too hard while I was doing the exercises, I feel it in my abs and thighs today, which is good!

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15 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

Marmee

Veteran

I do pilates group equipment classes two or three times a week, and live zoom mat classes from home two or three times a week. In the past I've had lower back issues, but not since I started pilates 6 years ago. I agree, it's not the same as a peloton class, but it has a different purpose. I love the sense of community I have at my neighborhood studio and the meditative quality of the workouts.

Anonymous

I did quite a bit of Pilates at a local studio in the past, and it never felt very exerting to me, but I always felt great after the session. Now I’m working with a trainer who’s a certified Pilates instructor and she’s about to kill me. I am only doing the mat exercises, not the reformer, but it’s intense. I still feel great after these sessions, but it’s definitely more of a workout than my earlier experience. I feel like I’m at boot camp, lol!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Interesting! This was with a certified instructor. We used a couple of pieces of equipment (I think the reformer was one, I forgot the names). I’m sure a first session is not about pushing hard, since they are getting to know their client’s needs and fitness levels, so not a big surprise that it wasn’t already boot camp level. She did tell me we were doing some movements she doesn’t often do in first sessions because she could tell I was ready for them — I guess my existing activity level, modest as it is, is good enough for some decent baseline of fitness.

I am most interested in building strength and flexibility, toning up, maintaining and improving my cardiovascular health, and yes, I have about 15 extra lbs on me right now, compared to when I was running long distances 10 years ago. I know not to expect miracles on a post-menopausal body, and I know diet is a big factor (I’m working on it, but I am weak when it comes to will power with delicious food). I already have some decent cardio activity with the Peloton, Hydrow, biking, and walking (although the walking slacks in the summer when it’s hot). I just need to be more consistent — for instance the past week has been busy with other things, and sedentary when it comes to exercise. I tend to be like that — a couple weeks on, a couple weeks off. A class or personal sessions of some sort would really help me be more accountable.

LJP

Veteran

Pilates is my favourite form of exercise, and my workplace has a very busy and thriving offering of sessions. It's one of our most popular paid programs. That said, it's a little out of my budget to do as my main form of exercise so I've had to let it go. The reformer is an amazing piece of equipment and literally performs wonders on the body. As you found, it's not a high-heart rate/sweat inducing workout (although it can be once you're at a higher level and using lots of tension on the structure) but I've never been in better shape than when I was going a few times a week. Balance, core strength and posture were improved immensely.

kkards

Veteran

prior to the pandemic i was "doing" pilates 2-3 days a week, always in group classes. we did both mat and reformer work. i will say that i was super out of shape before i began, but saw immediate improvement. i loved it. i used muscles i never realized i had, LOL. what i really liked is that it built strength, but also improved flexibility and balance, all key ingredients to successful aging. Unfortunatyly, i'm not comfortable going back to the studio i was in before, which kept its pricing low by having 12 people in a class. i am looking at a new studio, but as mentioned, its a major financial layout.

Sal

Veteran

I did Pilates for about eight years. It suited me really well at the time- then when I moved to morning exercise and classes changed, I stopped doing it and now do the gym, yoga, walking etc instead.

I think it can be really good for toning the core and strength and flexibility. I only did it once a week and did other things around this.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I love Pilates. Somehow it clicked with me, whereas various yoga classes I tried didn't; I kept going back to Pilates. I took classes in a studio for several years, but quit when my work schedule didn't mesh with the studio hours. Now that instructor has retired--didn't come back after the pandemic. After taking classes, though, I feel I can do floor exercises out of a book, as I understand the techniques and the muscles I'm supposed to be working. Now I do some of the exercises on my own, though I'm not great at motivating myself. Like others have said, I like it as a supplement to my aerobic exercise (biking and swimming). It is great for core strength, flexibility, and balance. Also helps my posture.

Staysfit

Veteran

I LOVE Pilates. I have my own reformer and tower (Balanced Body although I am considering a Stott) and I have taken some instructor classes from Polestar, Stott and Balanced Body as well (I join with whoever comes to town to train the local PT’s or studio owners). I have worked out once a week for the past 12 years with a certified (Balanced Body, Stott and Polestar) instructor who is also a PT and former professional ballerina. I do at least 4-5 workouts/week on my own at home. I prefer mat and reformer, although I have also used the Chair, and other equipment. I have some congenital orthopedic issues with my spine and hips and Pilates has been keeping me flexible and functional.

Pilates is not supposed to be “hard” in the same way as weight lifting or an aerobic workout. Instead, the focus is on completing a few repetitions in perfect form, which over time builds incredible strength and flexibility and also works the smaller stabilizing muscles of your core. In addition to Pilates I lift weights twice a week, do some yoga, and walk or run. I always feel calm, focused and energized after a Pilates workout. In comparison, I may feel tired or sore after weight or a run.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Wow, thanks everyone! I’m on my phone as usual so it’s hard to reply to individual responses, but all of this is great to know.

Staysfit, I can see your last point already. It didn’t feel very hard doing the movements, but here I am three days later still feeling a bit of soreness — the good kind — in my abs and quads. More so than a Hydrow workout, even though I can tell I’m using a lot of the same muscles — it’s a different type of movement (I’ve gotten pretty good in a relatively short period of time in going slow-but-powerful on the Hydrow, but my legs have always had decent strength).

This is all super helpful. I like what you all have to say about it. I liked the session a lot, and a couple of my friends are regulars, and they love it. In fact, I might start sharing sessions with one friend if we can work out the schedule, to get a little discount.

Thank you everyone! I am out of town now, but I’m very much looking forward to my next session when I get back home.

Staysfit

Veteran

LOL, I had to look up Hydrow! DH was on the University of Michigan crew team when we were there. For the first ten years of our marriage we had a Concept II rowing ergometer (machine), and I loved using it. We sold it when we moved to this house because DH has bad knees and was sad seeing me use it when he could not. Rowing is a great exercise also!

Helena

Veteran

I love Pilates! I've only ever done mat Pilates and my gym had a few amazing instructors who sadly aren't there anymore so I haven't done a class in ages. I have never been as fit or strong as when I was doing it regularly - with no strain or injury unlike when I used to do heavy weights and wrecked my poor knees. There's a great YouTuber who does Pilates called Isa Welly, if you ever want an at home option.

nuancedream

Veteran

I've been practicing Pilates for 10 years and LOVE it. Every Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00 am I participate in a Zoom class. Plus, I also do a Pilates Tower/Chair/Reformer workout on Mondays or Wednesdays. My core strength has drastically improved, which is a huge help to my tennis game. Also, Pilates was the biggest factor in helping me regain muscle strength after I was diagnosed with Graves disease.

Gail

Veteran

Late to reply here.
I have been doing Pilates for two years. It has helped me gain a lot of core strength which I was lacking. I do reformer , core align, bodhi suspension training and MOTR. I have NEVER my entire life ever exercised regularly until I started this. I have become a lot stronger and much more flexible. I have osteoporosis so I knew I needed to do something !

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, all! This is super encouraging. I’m a little irritated that the Pilates instructor has messaged me that for the second time, she needs to reschedule my session. I’m giving the benefit of the doubt but it’s annoying. I’d like to make this a regular part of my fitness routine and the rescheduling is a little off-putting. I’ll see how it goes with the third free session, and then schedule from there.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

A little update: I’ve finished my first three sessions with the Pilates instructor, and I really like it. It seems to be a good fit for me, since I have scoliosis and some asymmetry in my body that it helps with. I continue to marvel that the exercises don’t seem hard, yet a day later I have sore muscles. Sore in a good way, IYKWIM.

I’m going to sign up for a set of 8 more sessions — a mix of one-on-ones and some with a couple other beginning students. I’d like to get up to speed enough to share lessons with one of my friends who goes to the same instructor. The good thing is, the instructor says I have good basic core strength, so it’s mainly a matter of learning the equipment and terminology and getting comfortable with it.

I appreciate all the experience you all shared! It helped nudge me into committing to this for a while. I have rowing and cycling machines at home, and I enjoy hiking, but it’s really helpful for me to have some portion of my workout life that is held accountable to an outside party to keep me on track!