OPTIONS PILATES STUDIO

What If I'm New to Pilates?

I’m new to Pilates, how do I get started?

If you’re not used to moving, don’t worry! Pilates is a great way to start moving your body. Options Pilates is a non-intimidating and welcoming environment to help you get started with Pilates.

Depending on your level of body awareness, conditioning and previous experience, you might wish to go straight into group classes. However at Options Pilates, we do strongly advise our clients to start with at least one or two private 1 on 1 sessions.

Pilates is a form of exercise with very controlled movements, so it is very important for you to perform the movements in the correct posture.

Understanding the fundamentals of Pilates, such as the correct pelvic placement, basic starting positions and a general knowledge of the muscles, is absolutely crucial for anyone to get the most out of Pilates.

Private classes are a great way to learn the proper basics of Pilates, as well as to assess and resolve any movement patterns that may be contributing to poor posture or even pain in the neck, shoulders, back or knees.

In a private session, your instructor will pay attention to your every move, so they can tell you if you’re doing a movement correctly, or if you need to engage certain muscles. They will give you helpful cues and advise you on specific adjustments that will make your practice even more effective.

If you are new to Pilates, why not come in for a complimentary trial? Your instructor will be able to assess your starting point and then recommend the right package for you.

I’m new to Pilates but I want to try group classes.

For the reasons mentioned above, we don’t advise new Pilates clients to start group classes right away.

In many cardio-based group exercise classes, if you’re not sure what you’re doing, you can usually get along ok either by trying to copy the instructor or other more advanced students, or by simply trying to move in time with the beat of the music. This not the case with Pilates at all! With a group Pilates class it’s important for you to have a basic knowledge of how to engage different muscles (including the pelvic floor) and how to move in a controlled manner, to name only a couple of things.

At Options, we offer all our new clients an introductory package of 5 private and 3 group sessions. This means you can get a good grasp of the basics in your private sessions and then be in an excellent place ready to try the group classes. Some clients then decide to go back to the private classes for a much more tailored service, but having tried both you will be able to make a much more informed decision. Of course we’re here to help and advise you at any time.

How often should I do Pilates?

How often you practice Pilates is up to you. It will depend on the frequency of your other activities, how much you exert yourself doing those activities and how much rest you get. If you go to the gym regularly (3-4 times a week) and your Pilates supplements your fitness routine, you might find that one class a week is enough.

Many of our clients who don't do any other form of exercise would typically come to the studio 2-3 times each week.

How often you practice also Pilates comes down to your level of commitment. If you suffer from neck or back pain, for example, or you want to see specific results in a particular time frame, then we would suggest committing to 2 or 3 Pilates classes per week for at least 2-3 months.

The answer to this question will be different for each individual, but we are here to make suggestions based on your own very specific needs and personal requirements.

What should I wear?

We recommend comfortable, form-fitting clothes so that your instructor can clearly see your posture and body alignment. Shorts are ideal as they allow the instructor to easily check your knee placement, but leggings are fine too.

We ask all clients to wear socks for hygiene purposes. Socks with grips or socks with separate toes are advised to allow proper movement of the toes for balance and grip. Regular socks are acceptable, but make it harder to separate the toes for optimal balance, body awareness and stretching of the feet muscles.

What is the difference between mat & reformer Pilates?

The reformer uses resistance and coordination, whereas Pilates on a mat will use only your own core strength. Mat exercises consist of movements that primarily roll, twist and curl to target your torso, from your hips to your shoulders.

While mat Pilates may not look as fun or challenging as Pilates on a reformer, since you have to use so much core strength, it is actually very effective for improving strength, posture, agility and flexibility.

The reformer offers all the core-building benefits you get on the mat and more.

The force from the pulley and spring system adds resistance and challenges your stability, as well as allowing for a broader range of motion and variety of movements.

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