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Last week I posted on our social media accounts answering a few FAQs for you all and today I will answer a few more.
I will cover:
Why you should choose Pilates
If you need to have a private class first
The different between Mat and Reformer Pilates
Recommendations
Why choose Pilates?
Pilates is a great form of exercise where you can really work on your deeper muscles. When you watch someone doing Pilates it looks relatively easy right... but when you actually try to preform the exercise its a lot harder... that is because when done right even the simplest exercises are hard and challenging! It involve being slow and controlled with all your muscles not just the ones you think you are using. Pilates is also great to get to know your body and find where it needs strengthening. For example, lower back strengthening so you can say goodbye to back pain once and for all!
Do I need to have a private class first?
I have noticed most studios have a compulsory intro pack. This means that if you want to attend their studio you must do at least 3 private sessions with them before entering in to the main classes. Now this can be pricey and time consuming but I understand where they are coming from especially if you are new to Pilates in general.
Basically by doing a few private sessions first you will be able to get exactly what you need and all the tools required to preform the exercises correctly before moving into a regular class where it is only catered for the majority instead of designed especially for you.
I will be adding something similar in to my studios terms and conditions soon.
When you are an instructor and have a class full of people who have different challenges you try to find somewhere in the middle where everyone is challenged but still looking after themselves. Sometimes I walk in to class having a plan of exactly what i'm going to run the class through but sometimes some of my clients aren't having the best day and that's when you have to put the plan aside and freestyle a bit for that person while keeping the rest of the class happy. Sometimes that involves running 2 completely seperate programmes.
When you move into a class the attention is no longer purely on you. The class may be small but the attention needs to be shared so that is why doing private one on one sessions is truely a bonus for you and your journey with Pilates. You will benefit so much from those few sessions more than jumping straight into an already established class where the attention is shared and planned for the majority.
What is the difference between Mat Pilates and Reformer Pilates?
The biggest difference between mat and the reformer is the reformer equipment used. For those that don't know what a reformer is it is basically a bed with springs and cables. Reformers are a lot more challenging than mat classes but in a completely different way. When you are on a reformer you have to know what you are doing. Depending on the instructor and their style of training depends on what exercises you would do but basically you bounce off the platform while lying down or on your side and use the cables. It is a lot of stability and balance required. If you are interested in seeing what I mean pop on over to YouTube and just search up Reformer Pilates and have a little look through. It's intense but interesting to watch.
Mat pilates is completely on the floor/standing with props. You can use props with reformers too but you don't have to. Once you have become confident in preforming the exercises with just your body weight on the floor you can then explore and use props to make it more challenging. There is always a way to make an exercise more challenging. By doing Pilates on the mat you can really connect to your finer muscles without any distractions. Once you are 100% confident in Mat pilates you can then try out bigger equipment and props. With some Mat classes they use larger props are well like chairs (not the ones you sit on at the table) but that depends on the studio and what they have available.
Basically you can pick your level of hard with either option just make sure you have a good instructor where you feel comfortable with to ask questions. Pilates can be very easy when doing it wrong so if you want to do it correctly don't take the easy way out.
Recommendations
I recommend doing Mat pilates first before jumping in to a reformer class but that is 100% up to you and the studio that you are attending.
I also recommend investing in some one on one sessions even if you have been attending normal pilates classes. With private sessions you can get the session completely designed for you and have the instructors attention all on you. This can improve and strengthening your muscles a lot faster than continuing with normal open pilates classes if you attend private sessions regularly (2 to 3 times a week).
If you are wanting help with your Pilates journey or have any questions please feel free to send me an email or message through one of our social media platforms.
If you would like to book in for any one on one private sessions we can definitely try to organise something for you.
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