Talk to me about Pilates

[alifromtheforest]

I've just booked my first ever class but I have little to no idea what it is! I go to the gym regularly but thought I'd sign up for a couple of classes for variety.

What do I take? What do I wear? Will I struggle being a total newbie?!

Yoga mat, and yoga clothing, nothing heavy or restrictive. You should be doing it barefoot or yoga socks.
It is great fun, but you might find muscles you didn't know existed!

Concentrate on getting your breathing right, it is about small precise movements, and instructor should show you several variations.

You’ll love it! Pilates is amazing. Totally agree about muscles you didn’t even know about, I always aches more the day after the day after, especially lower abs and upper back.

It’s a lot more intense than it looks and really gets you sweating if you’re doing it right.

Your teacher should explain different options for each position/exercise to take into account any issues people in the class might have. My last class had people with all sorts of existing things and she’d give them variations they could manage and get something from.

I really miss it and can’t wait to get back to it.

What's a yoga mat and where do they come from?!

Thanks for the advice, I am cautiously excited :)

A yoga mat is a thin flat mat used for yoga. The Pilates teacher might have some to loan out. You're not always expected to bring your own. Not as a newbie anyway.

I love Pilates. It's quite slow compared to cardio classes and requires concentration to do it correctly. You are working to use your core muscles whilst co-ordinating breathing and moving. There's quite a lot of floor work.

It's great for posture.

Ah, ok, thank you. I'll check before I go. I am really looking forward to it - I'm so bloody bored of the gym the whole time! Even though I mix my workouts and I never do the same thing two days running.

They will usually provide the mat. I think of Pilates as a mixture of balance, stretching and slow exercises. You will be fine wearing leggings and a t shirt or vest top. Tie up longer hair as it can get in the way. Bring a small bottle of water. Take your shoes off before the class it's usually bare foot. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks and enjoy.

Oh I love Pilates! Hope you enjoy OP

My main tip is wear a longish stretchy top that's tight or if loose has high neckline otherwise your t shirt flaps round your cleavage when on all fours or doing a "roll down"

Also weirdly people often wear socks for Pilates compared with bare feet for yoga but I don't know why.

They will normally gave some mats but possibly but stinky and if you get your own mat you can swan around afterwards carrying it around with your nose in the air like "I'm so amazing darling I've been working on my posture". I do this. With a scarf wrapped around my neck for extra effect

I got my mat from tk maxx, but Argos and loads of other places do them. I prefer my own because shared ones are usually smell of feet.

Ideally the class should be small; if you are one of 30, there is no chance the instructor will spot you doing something wrong - in Pilates there is the easy way, and the correct way, only one of them does you any good, and a decent instructor will be there to put you right.

if you are one of 30, there is no chance the instructor will spot you doing something wrong
that very much depends on the instructor

Pilates is fab - I must get back to it too. I have ongoing problems with my shoulder blades, neck & ribcage but it was better when I went to classes & my core strength really improved.

You will love it! You can get a cheapish mat from Argos or sometimes Aldi have them for around £5 or £6 . The instructor usually demonstrates and gives you different levels of difficulty. Please mention before the class that you are new.
You definately will find muscles that you didn't even know were there a couple of days after your class. In my class (daytime) there is a real mix of ages from early 20s to ladies in their 70s. You will find your own level and you will feel great I promise.
Enjoy!

Anytime I've ever done Pilates, the majority of the group have been barefoot, but I have the coldest feet known to mankind, so I bought some yoga socks (in Primark) which the instructor was fine with as they have a rubber base. The barefoot thing is because obviously you can't do it wearing trainers, but socks are considered a safety hazard as people may slip.

Enjoy it OP

Is there time to check with the instructor what to bring?

Mine provides mats and various blocks / head cushions. In my class, some wear socks, some don't - it's personal preference. You may wish to check whether the floor has any carpet or not first!

I wear leggings and t-shirts from Asda, but clothing varies. You need something you can bend and stretch in every direction with.

Your instructor should take 5 minutes before class to take medical notes, so that will be time to mention you are new to this. It's not in her interests for a class member to injure themselves!

Dare I say it - not a Pilates fan here. I go to lots of different classes and just find Pilates too slow. I prefer yoga or body balance for stretching out and toning. Would be interested to know how you get on.

I bloody HATE pilates. I find it tedious and yet difficult. It's my least favourite hour of my week.
However, I have problems with back pain, which is made worse by the other exercise classes I do (Body Pump in particular really screws me up) and my pilates class sorts me out every week and makes the pain bearable without me needing to be on painkillers all the time.

Most people don't have their own mats (they should have mats to lend), but if you're going to do it regularly it's nice to have your own (adds to the smugness, as suggested above). I got mine from Amazon for about 8 quid.

I wear my normal exercise clothes and I also wear socks. But when it's chilly, I take a sweater because although you can get warm when you're doing things that are tricky, you can easily get cold because you're not moving THAT much and lots of lying on the floor (on your mat)

No disrespect to PPs, but I also find pilates attracts a certain 'type' which I find very irritating. They're all quite worthy and intense (the kind of people who use honey instead of sugar). I spend time during the class fantasising about punching them.

Pilates is better (for me) than either yoga or body balance, both of which I'm rubbish at. But pilates is do-able. And it really does help with aches and pains.

I have to agree that since I discovered BodyBalance I no longer go to Pilates

How would someone with pelvic floor issues go? Yoga causes no issues but I've always wondeted about Pilates.

Start gently
as with yoga

I did pilates right through my second pregnancy (to 11 days overdue)
and was back at it 6 weeks and 1 hour after having DS

I was careful and if anything felt wrong eased back
but gradually more and more stuff became easy

Dragonlight Pilates is amazing for your pelvic floor, NHS recommends it I believe.

Agree you need a properly qualified instructor and a small group though, it's all about precision in your movements.

I do both pilates and yoga. I think pilates is more effective at targetting muscle groups and less is more as you need to stay in control. Yoga is probably better for flexibility and balance. Wear similar clothes, leggings and layers of vest/tshirt to minimise flesh exposure, no socks.

Thank you. It sounds worth trying then.
:)

I got a mat from TKMaxx. I’ve had thin mats, but this is a thicker one and much more comfortable. I use it for Stretch and Tone, Pilates, Yoga, Booty Barre and the stretching bit of a cardio workout.

I wear socks because my feet get really cold, but they’re Yoga socks with grippers on the sole.

Only do what you feel comfortable with to start with. You’ll be able to do more as your core strengthens.

I love yoga but Pilates nearly killed me, couldn’t cough for a week without my stomach muscles feeling like a punchbag