How Can I Learn Pilates?
Like all other fitness programmes, Pilates exercises need to be done consistently to be genuinely effective. To learn Pilates, you must be patient and persevering in your practice. You should do your Pilates workout regularly until it becomes a habit and an organic part of your routine.
The basic principles of Pilates focus on functional fitness. This means that doing Pilates not only makes you fitter but able to move more efficiently. With regular practice, you will develop better posture and flexibility, be stronger and more balanced—making it easier for the body to do everyday tasks.
At Pilates Plus Singapore, when people ask, “how can I learn Pilates,” we tell them that it takes the body and mind to work together to get results. It may be challenging at first, but it only takes a few weeks to feel the difference. Here are 5 Simple Steps to Learn Pilates and get started on your Pilates journey.
5 Simple Steps to Learn Pilates
1. Set Realistic Goals
When founder Joseph Pilates introduced Pilates in the early 20th century, its first practitioners included The New York City Ballet. Fast forward to the 21st century, the list includes Lady Gaga, Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, and other celebrities. But having a body like theirs took a lot of work to achieve.
When setting any fitness goal, it’s wise to manage expectations and take it one step at a time. Three sessions doing Mat Pilates won’t immediately result in a leaner physique. However, you will feel an increase in the range of motion in your joints. And that would make you want to do more Pilates.
2. Find a Reliable Studio/Trainer
If you are a novice, then you need a certified instructor so you can get the full benefits of Pilates. An experienced trainer can give you a proper introduction to Pilates. They can also show you how to do the exercises correctly, and help you make adjustments so that the movements feel right.
Of course, there’s a ton of free exercise videos online but they won’t help you get the results you want. In Singapore, the price of one Mat Pilates session can go upwards of SGD40. If you’re a beginner on a budget, there are some reputable studios that offer affordable classes, including Pilates Plus.
3. Commit to Your Programme
To sustain interest in any fitness plan, it must be relevant to your lifestyle. For instance, if sitting for hours in front of a computer, you’d want Pilates exercises that ease or prevent back pain. Additionally, start with the fundamentals of Pilates to build good form and train the body gradually.
The Strength Pilates Mat programme is ideal for beginners. These are floor exercises that build up your full-body strength over the course of six (6) weeks. Pilates Plus is the only Pilates and movement studio in Singapore that offers the Strength Pilates programme for both Mat and Reformer classes.
4. Practice/Exercise at Home
For starters, a 3-times-a-week studio class is good enough, but if you want to get the full benefits of Pilates, then go for more frequent sessions. In his book Return to Life, Joseph Pilates suggested doing Pilates Mat at least four times a week for optimum results.
Supplement your studio sessions with virtual classes. Or ask your trainer about practice workouts you can do at home. For this, you need to set aside an open, clutter-free area as your dedicated Pilates practice space. It will also help condition your mind to embrace Pilates as a part of your daily routine.
5. Enjoy Life Through Pilates
Pilates is not a collection of standalone exercises but a sequence of movements, each one flowing to the next in purposeful succession. The idea behind Joseph Pilates’ method is for the exercises to progressively warm up the body, challenge it with exertion, then cool it down gradually.
The true purpose of Pilates is to help you take on your daily tasks with strength and positivity. It is a means for an altogether better way of life. With each session, Pilates gets you closer not just to your fitness goals but also to a more optimistic outlook in life.
