Tell me about your pilates story

[Theeasypeasywoman]

I have just recently started pilates(tough) and 10k steps as I want to tone up and loose 6-7 lbs weight. I don't smoke or drink and currently trying to eat whole foods in calorie deficit. My main goal is to feel good about my body and taking care of it in long term as I have flexibility issues and very stiff back with lots of clicks and pops. I want to know how pilates changed your body and health ? and how often do you do it ? Tell me your story.

I have been doing reformer Pilates twice a week since November. I’m also perimenopausal. I didn’t see dramatic results at first and sadly have not magically transformed into Jennifer Aniston, however, slowly I noticed some small things that have encouraged me to continue on. My joints don’t ache as much - I feel less ‘old’ because my stiffness has gone. When I stand watching my son play football for an hour and a half, I no longer get lower back pain from having a weak core. I go out cycling in the spring and summer and it usually takes me around 6 rides to get my strength and fitness back, but not this year when I felt strong from the first ride, despite being heavier to propel than last year.

I’ve lifted weights and thought Pilates wouldn’t be enough in terms of resistance training, but it’s actually really good. Like you, I just want to take good care of my body now in the hope it does the same to me as I age.
Although, if I dropped 3kg on the way I wouldn’t complain.
Good luck!

I re-started mat Pilates a couple of years ago doing one session per week. At the time I was recovering from a frozen shoulder and had a limited range of movement. Within 3 months, that had resolved and I was generally stronger.

From January this year, I’ve added in another two sessions of Reformer Pilates and the physical transformation has been quite dramatic. I can see lots of muscle definition in arms and legs and abs and my posture is a lot better. I’ve also been eating better but I haven’t seen a dramatic weight loss - it’s about 1-2lbs per week so well within the normal and healthy range though.

I find Pilates great for stress management and that’s probably been the biggest benefit for me.

I will be 35 next month and my goal is to just get stronger feel better in my head which I really feel after every session. I am doing 30min mat pilates at the moment as there is no reformers pilates class near where I live but so far I find mat pilates difficult as well but its feel good difficult at the end type.

Yes I went to sports therapist last month and she told me that I have a really stuff shoulders after pregnancy due to loads of baby holding, My DD will be 4 in 3 months but this was my first time going to therapist for stiff back and shoulders and lots of knots. She did suggest that pilates and yoga will help massively in the long term.
I started this thread in the hopes of knowing positive stories to keep me going.

I've been doing mat pilates since 2019. I had very long term lower back pain (30 years ) and osteoarthritis in my hips. My hips were so bad I waddled after sitting for any length of time. I no longer have back pain. Obviously, I can't reverse my osteoarthritis, but I no longer suffer from pain or stiffness in my hips - no waddling!
I started with 1 class a week, then increased to 2. I have swapped from beginners to the intermediate/advanced class.
I tried yoga first, but that made my back worse.
I'm thrilled with these results, but feel guilty for not practicing between classes.
I swim and walk on other days.

Made my sciatica 90% better….i would say 100% but this week it’s been niggling me a bit. It only took 6 weeks to see a massive improvement. I couldn’t believe it. It’s been a game changer. I’m only 45 but I was walking around like an OAP it wasn’t great.

I’ve been going once a week since 2018. If I could afford it, I would go twice a week and in the summer I will try to do shorter routines at home. I would also love to try Reformer! My posture has improved, and it helps with the hip and back pain I sometimes get. It’s also quite mindful so can help relieve stress.

If been doing pilates on and off for the last 18 years. Mainly off but returned to it again 14 months ago. I also jog and do alot of walking but I'm very slow as on cancer treatment.

I know it helps me have no pain in my dodgy back. Everytime I stop doing pilates - the back starts back up.

I feel flexible and I'm bendier, my hips don't hurt.

My core muscles are great.
My leg muscles are more defined.

Can do some exercises every night when brushing teeth.

It lifts my mood. I always leave a class happy.

I've been able to continue my classes whilst on cancer treatment and the instructor and I high five each other after each session cos' I'm just so bloody happy I did it!

I do 2 , 1 hour mat classes a week , do lots of other exercise but Pilates is my favourite , it has improved my posture and core strength , balance and flexibility have also improved but I do yoga as well.

I did a one hour class once a week in my mid thirties for about a year. I enjoyed it but never saw much difference in my fitness or strength.
Roll on to today:
perimenopausal, heavier and getting stiff and sore. I started online Pilates just before Christmas ( I do girl with the Pilates mat)
I aim for 20mins every day.
What a difference; no more hip pain, stronger core, legs and arms.

I go to reformer. I try and do 5 classes a week across 3 days (On the weekend I do 2 classes back to back and one in the week), my studio offers a really decent membership so overall it works out about £6/7 a class based on doing 5 classes a week

I've noticed i'm alot more toned, my back pain is gone and I just generally feel I can get about my day a lot easier. I really love it.

I started 6 weeks post C-section 14 years ago. I had had back ache for a couple of decades before then. And while my shoulders carry tension, and sometimes my hip aches, my back is good. And now I'm 55 the instructor is starting to focus on balance, failing gracefully, getting up off the floor etc. it really can be an exercise for all ages.

I have been doing Pilates for 2 years now.
I started just after recovering from an operation for frozen shoulder.
my other shoulder started freezing and I declined a further operation and started Pilates instead.
my flexibility is now very good, my shoulders are fine.
my upper body strength is great. My thighs are a lot more toned.

I’ve been using the Pvolve system used by Jennifer Aniston who was mentioned upthread since November. It is a sort of Pilates style class/functional fitness training but also has the ability to add in weights for some classes if that is a concern. The proprietary equipment Pvolve uses also mimics reformer type Pilates which is handy if there are no classes near you/cost is prohibitive. It has been the best thing for my functional fitness and I’ve noticed my back ache has gone alongside twinges in my knees. My posture is 💯 better. I have been on a weight loss drive so toning was important to me but I think this sort of exercise has been instrumental in changing my body shape for the better. The subscription is around £15pcm (equipment is an additional cost but there are no-equipment workouts) which includes library and live stream classes.

I've been doing Pilates for more than 15 years, I can't really remember when I started. It has resolved my back issues. I am strong, flexible and have good mobility and balance. I do at least four mat sessions a week, one with equipment. If you do it properly with a hands on instructor it will change your mobility and improve your posture. Slow and steady, make sure you get all the basics correct first before progressing, a resistance band can be useful for leg work when you start if you have back issues and no core. Listen to your body. There's no shame doing singles until you develop strength. Focus on you and your mat.

I started (mat) pilates for the first time a few weeks ago. I go to two classes a week with the same instructor - one is a beginners ' class and the other is a more advanced one. I started with the advanced one because there was no space in the beginners'. It's really tough, but I like it, so I stuck with it I joined when space became available in beginners'.

Obviously I haven't seen amazing results yet, as it's all new, but I was definitely feeling I moved better and my joints felt better. After a week with no classes (instructor is on holiday) my hips and back are a bit stiff and achy again! The advanced class feels like a weights workout due to the way we use bands.

I’ve been going to one reformer class a week for a year. I love it. Haven’t lost weight but have some strength where before I had none, especially in my shoulders. Sadly the timings of classes where I go mean I can only get to one a week. I have bad knees so use knee pads for some of the exercises. It works the little muscles that keep your joints and bones where they should be is my understanding, but you’ll see the benefits so stick with it. I’m doing one thing extra a year to age better, in May I’m going to find a weights class and do that too, so build a routine and get it embedded so it sticks. I used to mess around with fitness and health. It now mid 40s have realised I simply can’t afford to if I want to age well.

I started pregnancy reformer pilates. It's definitely helped keep me mobile and functional. Over the Christmas break my hips and pelvis all seized up. I'm hoping being more aware of my posture will help labour and that staying a bit stronger will make recovery faster. I'm looking forward to staying normal classes after!

I started mat and studio/reformer pilates after suffering a spinal fracture and surgery and it helps me hugely, managing my back pain and stiffness and improving my mobility, strength and posture. I also find the breath work very calming. Pilates has helped me enormously through my recovery from my injury and also through perimenopausal anxiety and general life stresses at this age. I have been lucky to find some inspirational teachers, who have really made a difference for me. Pilates fits well with the other exercise I do - mainly walking and swimming these days.

I’ve been doing mat & reformer for about 5 months, due to recurring back problems. It’s been great - I no longer have aches / niggles every day. And most importantly I haven’t had any big painful flare-ups. So the regular sessions are clearly helping. I’m hoping that long-term my core will strengthen etc… But this is the first time I’ve enjoyed regular exercise!

I took up pilates about 4 years ago and it was life changing - didn't lose weight but it changed my shape and made me so much stronger. And it gave me the best butt - tight and pointing upwards 😅

Unfortunately I had to quit due to a catalogue of health disasters 2 years ago which are still ongoing but I miss those classes 😔

I’ve been doing mat Pilates for 30 years. Cured back pain. Haven’t lost weight.