Have you been thinking about trying Pilates but wondering whether you’re fit enough, flexible enough or experienced enough to join a class?
Perhaps you’ve watched Pilates videos online and thought, “That looks harder than I expected!”
Or maybe you simply want to find a form of exercise that helps you feel stronger, more mobile and more confident without leaving you completely exhausted.
If that sounds familiar, Pilates could be exactly what you’re looking for.
What is Pilates?
Pilates is a low-impact form of exercise that focuses on controlled movement, strength, mobility, balance and body awareness.
Rather than rushing through lots of repetitions, Pilates encourages you to slow down and really pay attention to how your body is moving.
You’ll work your core, legs, glutes, arms and back while also challenging your balance, coordination and mobility.
And despite being low-impact, Pilates can still be surprisingly challenging!
New to Pilates? Start with the fundamentals
If you’re completely new to Pilates, it can be helpful to understand a few of the basic principles before joining a class.
I’ve created a Beginner Pilates Series to help you get started at home, introducing three of the foundations we use in Pilates:
🌿 Lateral Breathing
Breathing is an important part of Pilates.
In this short video, I’ll introduce you to lateral breathing — learning how to breathe into the sides and back of your ribcage while maintaining gentle control through your core.
It’s a simple place to start and something you’ll use throughout your Pilates practice.
🤍 The Imprint
The imprint is a gentle Pilates movement that helps you become more aware of your pelvis and spine.
We’ll explore how to find a comfortable, supported position and begin connecting your breathing with your deep abdominal muscles.
💪 The Powerhouse
In Pilates, the “powerhouse” refers to the muscles around your centre — including your abdominals, back and pelvic floor.
Rather than simply telling you to “engage your core”, we’ll explore what that actually feels like and how these muscles can support your movement.
These three short videos are a great introduction if you’ve never done Pilates before, or if you simply want to refresh the basics.
Want Pilates you can do at home?
If getting to a weekly class isn’t always possible, I also offer Pure Pilates, my online Pilates membership.
Pure Pilates gives you access to Pilates sessions that you can do from home, whenever it fits around your life.
Whether you have 10 minutes or a full class to spare, you can build movement into your week without needing to travel to a studio.
It’s a great option if you:
- Prefer exercising at home
- Have a busy or unpredictable schedule
- Want to supplement your weekly Pilates class
- Are new to Pilates and want to build confidence
- Like having the flexibility to exercise whenever suits you
If you enjoy exercising with other people and having the structure of a weekly class, take a look at my Pilates class timetable for Beeston here
Do I need to be fit or flexible to start Pilates?
Absolutely not.
One of the things I love most about Pilates is that you don’t need to arrive at your first class already being strong, flexible or “good at exercise”.
You simply start where you are.
Exercises can be adapted to suit different abilities, and over time you may notice that movements that once felt difficult become easier.
You might find that you:
- Feel stronger through your whole body
- Move more freely
- Become more aware of your posture and movement
- Improve your balance and coordination
- Feel more confident exercising
- Develop better core strength
- Enjoy moving your body again
And perhaps most importantly, Pilates can be something you look forward to rather than something you feel you have to do.
What happens in a Pilates class?
A typical mat Pilates class combines a mixture of muscle activation, mobility and controlled movement.
You’ll work through exercises at your own pace, with guidance throughout the class.
You don’t need lots of fancy equipment either. Most exercises can be performed using a mat, with small pieces of equipment sometimes added to make things more interesting.
My Pilates classes are designed to be friendly, welcoming and accessible, particularly for people who may not feel completely at home in a traditional gym environment.
There is no expectation that you will be able to do everything perfectly.
What if I haven’t exercised for a while?
That’s okay.
In fact, many of the people who come to my Pilates classes aren’t looking to become super-fit athletes.
They’re looking to feel better in their everyday lives.
Maybe you’ve spent years putting everyone else first.
Maybe work, family or life has meant exercise has slipped down your list of priorities.
Maybe you’re getting older and want to start looking after your strength and mobility.
Or perhaps you’re simply ready to start doing something for yourself.
Pilates can be a lovely way to ease yourself back into regular exercise.
Pilates and strength as we get older
As we move through our 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond, maintaining strength becomes increasingly important.
Pilates isn’t a replacement for all forms of strength training, but it can be a fantastic part of a balanced exercise routine.
Regular resistance and weight-bearing exercise can help us maintain muscle strength, while Pilates can complement this by developing control, stability, mobility and body awareness.
That’s why I love combining Pilates-inspired movement with strength training in my work with clients.
The goal isn’t simply to exercise for the sake of exercising.
It’s about helping you feel strong, capable and confident in your body.
Looking for Pilates classes in Beeston?
If you’ve been searching for Pilates classes in Beeston, my classes are designed to be friendly, supportive and suitable for a range of abilities.
You don’t need to be the most flexible person in the room.
You don’t need to know all the Pilates terminology.
And you definitely don’t need to have a “Pilates body”.
Just bring yourself, a mat and a willingness to give it a go.
Not quite ready to join a class?
You can also get in touch if you’d like to ask any questions about whether Pilates is right for you.
I’d love to help you find a way of moving that feels good for you.