Yep – you read that headline right.
I’m spending $2,000 on pilates classes in 2020. In fact, I’ve already spent it. I committed to an annual monthly unlimited pilates membership up front for the entire year of 2020.
Help me, I’m poor. Lolz.
But real talk – this move was quite the investment. I wanted to dedicate an entire post to my love of pilates and why pilates is an exercise you should consider adding to your routine.
There’s a big reason celebs from Meghan Markle to Kate Hudson are obsessed with pilates. Let’s do this.
I asked you all on my Instagram Stories what pilates questions ya’ll had – so let’s dive in.
What is pilates?
There are two primary different types of pilates – floor (mat) pilates and reformer pilates. Floor pilates utilizes your own body weight for strength training, while reformer pilates involves a series of exercises done on spring loaded machines so that you use not just your own body weight, but also the resistance of the springs for strength training. I am currently enrolled at a reformer pilates studio and tend to prefer pilates classes on machines vs on the floor (I love that the springs give added weight and more challenge!).
Is pilates a work out you can do on its own?
The real answer to this question is – it depends what your fitness and wellness goals are.
Pilates is sort of like yoga meets weight lifting. I know that sounds silly, but seriously. Pilates is a great way to build strength, stretch, and tone – but not necessarily the best (fastest) way to burn fat or lose weight. If you’re looking to lose pounds (and quickly), I’d first recommend doing a nutrition program (like NOOM – read about my experience here) and then look at a mix of both cardio and strength training.
Pilates is perfect for me because I’m really looking to gain flexibility and build strength – not necessarily to lose weight. Pilates makes me feel strong and constantly challenges me. Because I opt for reformer pilates, I have the flexibility to add or take weight off the machine during each class and am easily able to track my strength progression.
Is pilates hard?
Pilates is challenging – but definitely doable for a beginner! There are so many modifications that can be done to literally every single exercise in pilates. For example, you can take your planks on your feet and hands or on your knees and forearms. You can also take springs (weight) off or add them back on based on your own skill level.
My biggest suggestion is to identify yourself to your instructor as a newbie at the beginning of your first class and ask for the teacher to offer modification options as you go through the class. Unfortunately not every instructor will automatically tell you modifications – I’ve really sadly seen people walk out of their first class because they felt defeated by the routine.
My favorite thing about pilates truly is the flexibility to modify the routine to what “challenging” means to me. Asking your instructor for modifications isn’t embarrassing and doesn’t mean you’re weak – it’s empowering!
How many times a week should you do pilates?
My studio claims that to “see results” (basically tone), you’ll want to take a pilates class at least three times per week. Transparently – that truly is the goal I reach for.
Because I purchased an annual monthly unlimited membership, I legit NEED to attend classes at least three times per week to make this membership “worth it.” Period. End of story. Lolz. Can’t back out now.
How expensive are classes?
The cost of a pilates class will vary greatly depending on where you live. I live in San Francisco where literally everything is expensive – especially studio classes. On average, reformer pilates classes in San Francisco range from $30-$35 per class.
The cost of my annual monthly unlimited membership for 2020 was $2,020 (lol – see what they did there). This averages out to approximately $168 per month. My studio typically charges $30 for a single class, so to hit this amount I need to be taking 5.6 classes per month at the bare minimum. Anything beyond the 5.6 classes per month means I’m reducing the total cost per class average for myself – meaning I have a BIG motivation to go more often! The more frequently I attend classes – the cheaper it is for me per class.
I seriously did this same math justification when I bought my Nespresso. Lol. I love a good math problem to really figure out how in the long run how much money I’m saving.
Got Qs about pilates? Drop ’em in the comments below.
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