Any Pilates people?

[HairsprayHon]

I have been wanting to try the Pilates reformer class, but it has not been a good time for me. The club just called to tell me they found the minimum 5 needed to start a Monday 6am class. I'm a llittle nervous, can anyone share any Pilates experiences?

 

[ohMom]

pilates is wonderful -- i love it. give yourself a couple weeks to learn the moves and get a feel for your muscles and control of them. take it slow -- it shouldn't hurt to do anything - just lift, tuck, squeeze or whatever the move is to your comfortable limit and hold it there. do not compare yourself to others!! it takes time to build the strength and control to look like you know what you are doing. I was the trimmest I have ever been since kids 12 years last fall when I was doing pilates faithfully a couple times a week. I have a QuickFix DVD (4 - 10 min sessions you mix and match of each pilates and yoga) Pilates flattened my tummy the most ever then. It amazes me that I was my trimmest at a time when I was doing less intense working out than I do now (running) and I believe in the power of pilates!

i have started doing 10 mins abs pilates on my jog days to try and reclaim a flatter lower ab region. Pilates will create a longer leaner look in your muscle tone and that in my book is a great thing!

good luck! just have fun with it and be proud of yourself for getting up that early in the morning and starting your day off right!

 

[DVCTiff]

My gym just started to offer Pilates as part of their program (instead of having to pay extra per class) so I'm going to go tonight. I'll report back. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about the workout.

 

[HairsprayHon]

Thanks for your comments, I'm looking forward to how new Pilates DCVTiff did after her first session. My class doesn't start until 7-12. Janet

 

[LuvTigger]

I took Pilates classes from a friend and I thought it was wonderful. It's not strenuous like some other forms of exercise, but I will say that it was more challenging than I expected it to be. When you watch someone doing it, it looks easy like they're just stretching, but when you actually do it, you'll learn that it has to do a lot with breathing and it's important that your form is correct to have the maximum benefits. What's neat about it is that in a sense it strengthens you from the inside out.

I've since stopped taking the classes (partly because of the expense and also because my friend had to temporarily stop teaching for personal reasons), but now that I know the proper techniques, I can watch Pilates videos and know that I'm doing the exercises properly.

I think you'll enjoy it! Let us know how it goes!

 

[swilphil]

I went to my first Pilates class this week, and I loved it! I had done some Pilates ab work in other classes, but I found Pilates to be a great workout. I would highly recommend doing a class to learn techniques. I've tried Pilates videos, but it's just not the same.

My abs, legs, and arms were all sore, but I noticed that my posture was better. It was like the Pilates did something to my rib cage. Anyone else feel this?