WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU START PILATES CLASSES

If your fitness routine has been feeling a little stale, trying a new kind of class can make it feel fresh again. Taking a Pilates class might be a good way to expand your fitness horizons, whether we’re talking about a class done on the mat or on a reformer.

Pilates is very versatile while you certainly can do it in a gym or studio now that most are opened back up, you definitely don’t need to. If in-person exercise isn’t something you feel comfortable with quite yet, or even if you just want to adjust yourself to the exercise type before joining a public class, there are plenty of streaming or virtual Pilates options too that one can go for. Regardless of which way you attend the classes, trying Pilates can be a workout game changer, no matter your fitness background. What is Pilates, anyway? Pilates is a form of low-impact exercise that aims to strengthen muscles while improving postural alignment and flexibility. A typical Pilates workout tends to be 45 minutes to an hour long.

You can do Pilates with or without equipment, but no matter what, expect the moves to involve slow, precise movements and breath control.

Pilates moves tend to target your core, although the exercises work other areas of your body as well. Pilates is not restricted to specific body parts. Although Pilates is specifically defined as exercise for the core or abdominal muscles, it is important that you know that the core includes the entire trunk, which is the abdominals, the hips, the inner and outer thighs, and the back. And many Pilates instructors mix in moves specifically meant to engage areas like your arms, glutes, and lower legs. So expect a workout that works your entire body.