r/pilates

Whether it’s a phrase you say or one you have heard in class.

I recently heard “fight for it” when I was in a class during one of the really challenging parts and I really liked that one. I also love the classic “yes you can”

I’d love to hear some phrases you use or have heard in your classes!

My hip flexors have grown a lot tighter over recent years. I'm suspecting my anterior pelvic tilt and large quad-dominant legs contribute towards it.

I've heard stretching helps but strengthening hip flexors is more effective; any stretches/exercises to target the hip flexors and not as much of the quads? Any other tips? Any folding of the body or lifting the legs (teasers, hip circles) are my biggest weakness.

Another quick video for Instructors and curious students!

I truly truly believe learning how to properly execute a rounded bridge is not only quintessential pilates, but quite literally the foundational exercise for any and all spinal articulation exercises (rolling up/down, short/long spine, magician, cat, etc...). I also like to go over all of the common issues (gripping neck/traps, hamstring cramping, etc...) and how to cue out of them.

If you can teach a novice student how to connect their mind-body in a rounded bridge, you can do anything! Happy teaching

Hello was there anything on the Balanced Body written exam (reformer) that caught you off guard that would help me? Anything you think I should study? There’s so much info it’s overwhelming. Any input is helpful.

Hello, I’m trying to ascertain if supplements are common for the members of this sub to enhance their Pilates practice. I’m sure a lot of us use protein, but I’m more curious about creatine, pre-workout, etc.

The other day I noticed someone using an mini treadmill with a standing desk and I had a thought. What if I were to sit on a wunda chair and press the pedal down with my feet while working? I love my pilates workouts but spend far more time at my desk.

I looked at several chairs and am considering ordering one but then thought all I really need is the pedal part and if there is an underdesk version of that it would be better because there is no need to switch off between desk chair and wunda chair all the time. Does such a thing exist? If so, what is it called and where can I get it?

Hello! I am a new teacher and my goal is to be able to teach a full mat class with no props. I like to teach more classical leaning but I feel like I keep running through my class plans so quickly that in the end I am throwing in some ring work to make up time. I am by no means a prop hater and I do like to use them in class but I would like some no prop classes.

Where I find the most difficulty is that for some of the mat exercises my clients (usually first timers) have a hard time doing like roll over and honestly even roll ups and teaser, so I tend to stay away from more intermediate or advanced mat exercises but then that cuts down what I can do. I know there are some beginner variations for some exercises but for others there isnt much room for modifications.

I was trying to stick to my manual and the reps they recommend which is usually 6-8 per exercise but that makes the class so fast.

Maybe I need to slow down more. I feel like I go pretty slow as is as i want people to really feel the work. I already got feedback after my first class that it was “slow and easy”. I have observed and done mat classes with no props that are extremely challenging and a full 50 minutes, but for some reason when I am trying on my own I am missing something. Open to how others do no prop group mat classes that are intentional, challenging, and for all levels.

Hi, I started my practice about 15 months ago. I’m consistent and do Pilates at home 2-3x per week. I am 40 years old and a trans man. I do mat at
Home with props and subscribe to Amanda Blauer subscription. There is a studio in my neighborhood with reformers and I do classes there from time to time. I’ve been noticing this recently; I would say that not only does pilates not get easier, it seems to be getting harder. Seriously, I did a 33 minute mat workout earlier and I tapped out and didn’t finish the remaining 3 minutes. Is this normal? I read that it’s because you engage deeper and deeper muscles as more time goes by.

Basically title. The little boutique studio I go to in a midsize city (conveniently only 10 minutes from my house) just went through a big remodel, and I hate the result. There are a variety of things that make this new set-up just truly no longer work for 8-person reformer classes, mat classes, or much of anything. The biggest issue is that three times a week they used to have a hybrid class that blended barre, sculpt and a reformer flow, and the new configuration does not have wall space for a ballet barre, so they have changed it a little and rebranded. I tried that a few days ago, and it was honestly just not the same. If I want a mat sculpt class, there are other options near me. It was the combo that made this class special. Everything from the size of the room to the storage to the lights are just all terrible, and it has made me not want to go back. I fortunately don't have a membership there and just do drop-ins, but I do that 1-2 times a week and have been a client for about 2.5 years.

The issue is that while there are other reformer studio options, none of them are as close as this place, and the two highest-quality places are chains (CP and one other brand that isn't as well known). There is another indie boutique that I have tried out before, but their pricing and payment system is weird, and again they're pretty far from where I live.

I did say something to the woman who teaches the former barre class, and I have a class this morning with the studio owner, so I'm thinking about asking her if there are more renovations coming up that might address some of the issues, but I'm seriously disappointed and just feel like they made a bunch of bad decisions that don't serve clients. :(

I guess I'm wondering if anyone else has gone through this and if it sounds like enough to give this place up for.

ETA: At my class this morning, I noticed that the reformers are now actually close enough together that you have to be careful not to tap your neighbor in legs in straps. The session itself was wonderful, so maybe I'll get over all this, but IDK.

I feel like it's more and more common for studios to force you to come in for an evaluation or worse, take their fundamentals class before you can take regular classes.

Case in point. There's a new studio in my area that I wanted to try out. My regular studio had canceled classes that day for studio maintenance. I figured I'd drop into the new place and check it out.

Despite my 14 years of pilates experience, they insisted I had to do a fundamentals class with them first to even sign up. I don't need to learn how to put my feet in straps, I just wanted to try the studio and get a class in.

Another local studio insists you come in for an eval session before they'll sign you off for classes.

As a pilates student who spends money on her practice, I find this to be a very poor customer experience. It asks for a time commitment when I'm not sure I'm ready to commit to the studio at all.

(To be clear, I don't have a problem with sign-off requirements for advanced classes.)

(...after SUMMER break)...In May, I (M 66) put together a spreadsheet of exercises and props to use to continue Pilates on my own. Summers are hectic with all kinds of projects, trips, babysitting, family, etc. So, naturally, I had a complete hiatus and the spreadsheet was abandoned as a "good try."

I changed to a "strength pilates" class that I tried a few times during the winter, and where I got some great cues from the instructor. I was a bit apprehensive as all I had done was chores and brisk-pace dog walks. But it went well. It was an intensive workout with a few complicated moves and modifications but I believe it's good for me going forward.

I persuaded my wife to take the class I had gone to before. That's a big win for me. Thanks for reading!

I danced growing up and started Pilates in my early 20s. I have done it now for 20 years and recently have found an uptick in instructors that do this. I am not intending to be ageist , but the ones that do it are several years older than me and I am wondering if it was something that was common or taught to instructors at some point?

Does anyone else find this annoying? I think finger snapping is rude.

One of my best friends is a dog trainer and she snaps her fingers at the dogs and that is what I think of everytime an instructor does this🤪

The cue in question is ‘chin to chest’ in the context of a hip bridge.

Personally, I dislike it and never use it. In my training I was taught to keep the head and neck neutral to avoid excessive cervical flexion in a hip bridge.

I wanted to sanity check this with other instructors as I’ve attended a few classes at a studio where the instructor insisted I push my chin to my chest in a bridge.

I spoke to her about it afterward as in the class I said ‘no I’m okay, thank you’ and she seemed annoyed, and I wanted to make sure she knew that I didn’t mean to upset her.

She brushed off the apology and said ‘you do you’.

So I’m curious, what do other instructors here think? Am I wrong in thinking that ‘chin to chest’ in a hip bridge is incorrect?

Hi! Needing recommendations for Pilates studios in Belgium that host classes or private sessions in English or Spanish.

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