Anyone do Pilates?

[emily_in_nc]

I just started a Pilates class offered by our new fitness prime at work who has been teaching for ten years. I absolutely love it and can already feel increased strength/control in my core after only three classes. It's so nice to be able to do a "real" workout at lunchtime that doesn't require a shower afterwards, but leaves me feeling good for the rest of the day. I have a long way to go and am in awe of the instructor's strength and control, but I am so happy I tried this!

(Best of all, the class is free! )

[Miranda]

I used to do this class, but now I have some other med issues that I can't do all the class moves, so I don't go *sigh*. But, I still do one of the best ab exercises that I learned in that class that stays within my limitations... what a killer! The things I learned to do in that class certainly helped to strengthen my core for the bike. I don't know if your teacher does this, but... the last part of class was a relaxation technique that involved laying on the floor, lights out, and contracting and releasing each muscle group. Talk about feeling cleansed afterwards. Good for you being able to attend.

[redrhodie]

I take mat Pilates at the Y. I love it, but haven't been going as much as I'd like. You're very lucky to have this lunchtime option! I think it's the perfect partner to cycling.

[NbyNW]

I was doing pilates 2x a week when I was in grad school and now once a week now that I'm working. That mid-week session really gets me through the week and gets me unstuck from my chair! It was also a great compliment to PT when I was re-habbing an injury.

I'm normally very lazy about situps/core work so piltates has worked very well for me.

[tulip]

I started Pilates about 4 years ago on the advice of my chiropractor. I was having terrible hip and lower back problems. Pilates has helped tremendously, and has made me stronger and slimmer. I had a very good teacher in DC who was excellent at giving me modifications for my various aches and pains. I do Pilates on my own now, but when my stupid gym membership runs out in December, I'm going to take classes at a local Pilates studio.

[jobob]

I recently started taking mat classes at a studio near my workplace and I'm really enjoying it.

[crazycanuck]

I don't do the floor classes at the studio i frequent but use the trap table etc. I love it as it's helped my swimming & cycling heaps!

It's wonderful for stretching

[OakLeaf]

I LOVE Pilates. I try to do a Stott Pilates DVD at least once a week, and/or whenever I just can't motivate to do an intense workout.

Just if you have any injuries or issues, be sure your instructor is well-trained. About.com has a (non-exclusive) list of major Pilates instructor training programs. There are a lot of "fly-by-night" sort of certifications, and similar to yoga, the cost and time commitment involved in truly learning to teach the Pilates method is so great that very few gym-based instructors are really competent. Healthy people who already have a basic "working knowledge" of their bodies can definitely benefit from gym classes, and/or from books or DVDs. But a well-trained instructor can offer so much more to anyone, and IMO is a necessity to someone starting out with an injury or back trouble, or who simply isn't an experienced exerciser.

Lest anyone think I'm dissing their program without good reason, I have one of those weekend certifications, and I sometimes get called on to sub as a Pilates instructor at my gym. I aced my "certification" exam, but I'm not qualified, and neither is any of our regular instructors. None of us at my gym knows how to analyze a student's movements, identify imbalances or prescribe modifications for someone who doesn't already know they need them.

[emily_in_nc]

I LOVE Pilates. I try to do a Stott Pilates DVD at least once a week, and/or whenever I just can't motivate to do an intense workout.

Oakleaf, what DVD would you recommend for a beginner? I'd like to get one to complement the once-a-week class I'm taking.

As for my instructor, she's the head of our fitness center at work (recently hired) and has been teaching Pilates for 10 years. I don't know if that makes her qualified enough, but she is good at explaining modifications to the movements for people with back issues, shoulder issues, and so forth. Before the first class she gave a presentation on the method and talked a lot about Joseph Pilates and the principles of the form. She seemed to know her stuff, so I have been very comfortable with her as an instructor.

[Urlea]

My husband and I went for our second Stott Pilates session yesterday.

I'm not sure if I will enjoy it yet. I'm used to being covered in sweat and worn out after exercise so this is a change. It's definitely work though.

Right now the part that deters me from it is the bad headache I get afterward. Do any of you experience this?

I can't figure out why it's happening. Perhaps I'm forgetting to breathe? Hopefully it will stop happening.

When I was a teen I did the Windsor Pilates videos. I recommend them. After about 10yrs. of not being able to touch my toes and a few months of doing the videos I was able to.

[jobob]

Right now the part that deters me from it is the bad headache I get afterward. Do any of you experience this?

Could you be straining your neck? Make sure to focus on your navel when you raise up your head. Sounds silly, but it works.

I can't figure out why it's happening. Perhaps I'm forgetting to breathe? Hopefully it will stop happening.

That's possible as well. Make sure to talk to your instructor about it.

[jobob]

I was so jazzed at mat class last night. My hamstrings have been really tight but after a month or so of mat classes I can touch my palms to the floor again.

The studio I go to teaches "classic" pilates. I'm not sure what the major differences are between that & Stott & Windsor, etc. But I'm enjoying it and seeing results.

[F8th637]

I just went to a class on Saturday after not having been in QUITE a while and I fatigued my core fairly easily. Yesterday I was REALLY sore but I'm finally recovered.

I get the headaches too but didn't this time around. I think it's because of all the blood rushing in and out of my head from the different exercises. I did also make sure that this time I paid attention to not straining my neck. Maybe that did the trick.

[OakLeaf]

Oakleaf, what DVD would you recommend for a beginner? I'd like to get one to complement the once-a-week class I'm taking.

In the Stott Pilates line, probably "The Secret to Flat Abs" or (a bit more advanced) "Firm & Fit." What I really like about the Stott Pilates DVDs is the warmup section that reinforces the basic principles every workout. What I don't like about them is that they move pretty fast with a lot of the movements. Someone who doesn't have pretty phenomenal control is going to wind up flailing their pelvis quite a bit if they try to keep up with the instructors' pace on some of the exercises (leg circles, both the single leg circles and the side kick leg circles, are the ones that stand out in my mind). My unqualified self would say to do them at your own pace, pause the DVD or just do fewer reps, do them at whatever pace lets you keep the connection between your ribcage, spine and pelvis, and work up to doing them at the DVD's pace.

I also like the Gaiam/Living Arts DVD. That one goes straight into The Hundred without any other warmup, so just be advised if you prefer more of a warmup.

Urlea, yeah, definitely tell your instructor about your headaches. Make sure you're not jamming your chin into your chest, just elongating the back of your neck. A trick that helps me relax my neck - and I have no idea why - is to touch the tip of my tongue to the roof of my mouth while doing the five abdominal series.

[OakLeaf]

also - I was just reviewing one of my DVDs, and she talks about people getting a lot of neck tension because they're not isolating their scapulae and keeping them neutral. If you're not already doing scapula protraction/retraction and elevation/depression in your warmups, you might try that.