Pilates for core/pelvic floor

[dearydeary]

Hi

I am looking for pilates classes
and wonder if people have tips on what to look out for.

Where I live there are so many teachers, how do you know who is appropriately qualified and worth going to see?

Thanks 😊

What type of class are you looking for? Some will be to music and very active, some will be much more yoga type exercise. The ones who are 'more qualified' may not actually be 'more experienced' or suit you at all. Most will do try a class free so I would try lots and go from there.

Oh reformer - be an expert at mat Pilates first. Then think about reformer.

I disagree with having to be an expert at mat to do reformer. I’ve never done mat and started the reformer as a beginner. I was also incredibly unfit/fat. I wasn’t great, but a good instructor will always help you adapt a routine to your ability so that to can still engage the muscles. The first time i was able to do a plank I nearly cried.

Thanks for your replies

I enjoy yoga classes (low and slow stretches) and want to improve core (developing buddha belly).

Does that help? 😊

I’m a Pilates teacher and totally sympathise with not knowing where to start. If you don’t have any injuries or health concerns then the best thing to do is to try a few classes and see which teachers you like. Beginners can start with reformer or mat pilates; although the latter is usually much cheaper so people often start off with that to see if they like it.
If I was looking for a Pilates class to attend then I would want it to be close to my home (or work) with classes at times that suit me - convenience is everything if you’re hoping to go regularly.
I have a “good” Pilates qualification that I worked hard to get, but teaching uninjured beginners is relatively straightforward and I would expect that a decent PT who’s done a short Pilates teacher training course would be perfectly capable of teaching a safe and enjoyable class.

If you’re pregnant or have given birth within the past year, then I’d recommend looking for someone who has specific training in pre and post natal clients.
Good luck on your Pilates journey!

Thanks for your reply

I want to work on core and pelvic floor (menopausal)

Classes seem mat and reformer but suggest several one to one classes before this-is this usual?

@dearydeary Yes, some studios I’ve worked at like clients to do a 1-1 first, especially for reformer classes. It is really useful to be able to assess someone’s strengths and weaknesses before they’re put in a group class. IME, many people under or over estimate their ability and forget to put quite important information on their health form (or don’t mention it because they don’t think it’s relevant). This can all be teased out during a 1-1. If the studios you’re looking at are recommending 1-1s first then they’re probably run by well qualified teachers.

I'm a similar age to you, I do a combo of mat/reformer, I did pilates when I was younger and it was easier amd I got a six pack but I'm older and fatter and have one to one sessions now once a week and I find the tiniest things that look insignificant can be tough. I think in a big reformer class you can miss out on stuff a lot of the moves are quite nuanced.

Oh, lots to think on, thanks 😊

@dearydeary the reformer studio I go to is quite small - 5 machines - and they recommend a couple of beginner classes to get you used to the language and the machine and they are slower paced. I did 2 beginner classes before I ‘graduated’ to standard, some do prefer to stay in beginners. I have only ever done reformer Pilates - one mat class about 20 years ago that nearly killed me 😂 so you don’t need to be a mat expert to do reformer.

Also because it’s a small studio - and the teachers all seem to have eyes in the back of their heads - you do get monitored. So I’d look for a small studio. I pay about 15 quid per class with a block booking.

I’ve been doing Reformer for 18 months, started as a complete Pilates beginner. The studio I go to requires completion of 6 beginner classes (small, 6 bed studio) before you can do any of the other classes. On Monday I held a plank for 2 1/2 minutes, something I never thought I’d be able to do! It’s also been amazing for keeping me mobile and rehabbing an injury. Go for it!

You technically don’t need to do mat Pilates before reformer but you definitely get a lot more out of reformer by starting on the mat and then by doing a combination of the two.

I do APPI Pilates with an instructor that is qualified physiotherapist, going to this type will definitely get you a teacher that has great knowledge not just of Pilates but also the human body and can be particularly useful for injury recovery etc. and I’ve found them to be the most focused on getting posture within moves exactly right so that you get the right benefit. There are some great non-physio Pilates instructors out there, but they’re harder to find.

I would definitely recommend starting in a beginners class and doing a block of classes rather than drop-in to get started.

I have been to classes run by a women’s health physiotherapist so have complete faith that she knows her stuff.

Thanks, good advice on here. I appreciate it 😊