Has anyone else found they feel really sick and giddy after doing Pilates or am I just weird?

[PuppyMonkey]

I’ve been to two classes now and after both, I’ve felt really dreadful. Sick, giddy, whoozy. And the feeling goes on for hours. In fact, I did the class yesterday and I STILL feel a bit sort of travel sick now.

I told instructor the first week and she said it might be blood pressure, drinking more water during the class might help. But it made no difference.

I understand how lying on the floor doing exercise and then getting up to standing might make you feel giddy for a moment or two. But not 24 hours later?

Anyone else had this?

Yes I had this when I tried it years ago and so much so, I didn't carry on with classes! Others I know said they had this for a bit and then it got better!

It’s really strange, isn’t it cake? I’m not looking forward to trying again next week tbh.

Supposed to be doing something to improve my health, get fit etc - not make myself feel like spending the rest of the day in bed.

Maybe an inner ear issue? I can't do any exercise that involves laying or getting up/down frequently as I get really bad vertigo.

Positional hypotension possibly - get up slowly.

Not Pilates but I've just started doing yoga most days and a couple of times I felt just like you and had to stop. I wondered if it was low blood sugar as I was doing yoga first thing in the morning, so I started having a little something to eat first but it didn't make any difference. Now I just take it a bit easier and if I start to feel slightly woozy I ease off. I'm hoping it's just a 'being unfit' thing which will improve as I get stronger.

I did feel really sick and unwell when I was the only person in a class once. The tutor became like a personal trainer and I was too embarrassed to say that I couldn’t do it all. Felt really ill after. Maybe go at your own pace and build up

Yes me too, I did stop going. I thought it might have been that I was holding my breath or the changing position. I do have some problems with muscles though so also the continually contracting muscles didn't make me feel good.

Thanks for your thoughts all. Never had anything like it before, and as I said I could understand feeling briefly giddy when standing up - but I still feel a bit off even now and I did the class yesterday at 9.30am.

I’m currently eating ginger biscuits to see if that helps.

Sounds like it could be an inner ear issue, low blood pressure/blood sugar. There is nothing specific to Pilates that would cause the symptoms you are describing (I’m a Pilates instructor). What level of Pilates are you doing and how is your overall fitness and health? Are you doing any other forms of exercise or just Pilates? Pilates can be anything from very gentle modified post rehab type exercise right up to a full challenging whole body workout. You may well be doing too much too soon, Pilates (like most exercise) needs to be built up slowly so you get the basics into your body and give your body time to adjust and get used to it. If you are doing several exercises in a row (for example the ab series) with both legs in the air and your head off the mat, or any of the spine massage moves (ie rolling like a ball) they can make you feel a little queasy if you are over engaging the stomach muscles or overdoing it. A little like heading straight out in a challenging 10k run without building up. Also easy to build in neck tension which can cause headachy woozy type symptoms if you are doing too much too soon and not building up appropriately. If you are a beginner you need a beginners class which will take the time to explain the basics and progress the intensity appropriately.

Thanks Frog.

It’s just a class at my local village hall. There are all ages etc there, plenty of older ladies. I’m in my 50s, not super fit but I’m quite active and have done yoga before a few years back. I’m just through the menopause so it could be related to that?

The instructor did say do it at your own pace, which I have been. She’s given a hard and easy option fir the stretches and I’ve stuck to the easier one.

Yes it’s quite hard on the abdominals, I’m aching a lot today.

Maybe an inner ear thing, low blood sugar I reckon. Maybe Pilates is just not for me.

My very active mum was getting light-headed at her yoga classes when she started having thyroid problems. Could it be that?

Sorry, @Submariner only just saw your reply.

Have never had any reason to mention checking my thyroid to GP or anything, so wouldn't have a clue if it's that.

• goes off to consult Google....

I just started Pilates classes and will have to leave because of feeling seasick. I have started to wear sea bands to try a class online but fear I will have to choose a different type of exercise routine.