Pilates tips

[Curlewwoohoo]

Any Pilates pros out there?! Does anyone have any tips for good YouTube people to follow? Someone who can explain form and keep you all correct? A good book? A pilates summer camp?! Suggestions to keep things fresh?

I have prolapsed discs in my lower back. I have been going to a pilates class once a week for about 5 years. It doesn't change much, even the tunes are the same! My back has been bad recently and my physio suggested I ought to be doing more pilates, two or three times a week. Along with cobra stretches every hour and tonnes of glutes strengthening. So I've started doing some pilates workout on YouTube. It's made me realise I'm stuck in a pilates rut and probably not working correctly sometimes. Cheating without realising.

Any suggestions appreciated!

My fave pilates teacher recommended we look at wild pilates on YouTube if we couldn't make it to her classes as it's a similar style to the way she teaches, there's a few nice workouts on there but I think most of her content is paid.

I rate Lottie Murphy. She has free content on you tube but given what you say it might be worth subscribing to her paid channel and getting stuck in there. She also does live zoom classes I think.

Could you find another class OP to get you out of your rut? Given you have existing back problems and you know that you don’t always maintain proper form, you might need someone to watch/correct your form. It’s hard to know if you’re doing it right when you’re working out with YouTube.

I can recommend someone who teaches over zoom if you like? (DM me)

With an injury you should be looking for 121 lessons, at least for a weeks, to make sure you're getting correct form and tailor exercises to your injury. A lot of physios offer pilates so might be a good place to look.

Thanks everyone. Lottie Murphy is who I followed on YouTube. And the girl with the pilates mat. I was wondering about seeing who else is out there locally to do some additional sessions, but still keeping my group lesson as we've made that slot work family wise. The cost will be awkward but cheaper than the physio when things go wrong!

I'll second getting a few 1:1s in to get your form right. Long term it will be a worthwhile investment. I it would be worth paying for someone who's a qualified physio or osteo. You want to improve not do more damage through poor form. Regarding classes, maybe have a look around to see what else is in your area. Teachers have different styles. Mine is never the same from one week to the next.

The classes do different things week to week but on a rota, so having done classes for so long it all comes round in a cycle. They are physio led. So I think they're quite good in theory. I will ask her to check me more as she tends to focus on newer people.

I will see if I can find some one to ones locally to add in though as well.

Ah yes, I too would say get a real life class, 121 or small group if possible. I assumed it wasn't as you were asking about youtube etc. Good luck!

I agree that if you have back problems you need to be very careful and face to face classes/lessons are probably better.

That said, I find the following paid-for apps very good and they explain things very clearly.

Fluidform
Pilates for Runners (you don't have to be a runner)

Thanks! I do have face to face physio led group lessons once a week. I was looking for something to supplement it with as I ideally need to be doing it x3 a week. I've found someone who might do me a course of one to ones. Still need to do YouTube too though!

Jessica Valent is a physio and her videos are really good. Her 10 min back sessions are really good

i like lottie Murphy too,

Are there any other classes local to you that you could try? I do Pilates three times a week at a local gym. Each class has a different teacher and those teachers do totally different things.

Moving Mango on YouTube

I tried to do this online but did found that it was better in person to get my form right. My instructor is really good at correcting you. It’s so easy to hurt yourself

I already do a face to face class once a week. I'm just looking to supplement it as I can't do face to face x3 a week.

I am a Pilates teacher and rate Trifecta Pilates - lots of free content on Youtube
Once a week better than none but 3 a weekly is great to really make a difference. The 3 don't need to be face to face classes.

Sorry, I've only just seen this, but if you want a book that really goes into detail of pilates movements, The Pilates Bible by Lynne Franks is great. It goes through the basics moving through to intermediate and also has sections for specific issues including backs. https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/lynne-robinson/the-pilates-bible/9780857836700?

I have got that book actually 👍