Whether you’re already regularly attending Pilates classes or are thinking about signing up for your first session, it’s likely you have a goal or two in mind – whether that’s toning up, boosting fitness levels, or stress relief. Whatever your motivation, we’ve outlined some simple steps you can take to ensure you are getting the most out of your classes to reach your goals.

Dress Comfortably in Breathable Attire

An enjoyable and effective Pilates session begins with getting the basics right – this means wearing suitable clothing. Most importantly, your outfit needs to be comfortable. Avoid clothing with zips and buttons that might dig into you as you lay on the reformer, or with hoods or flaps that could get in your way. The last thing you want in your Pilates session is to be distracted by discomfort. Instead, aim for breathable and tight-fitting clothing. Pilates is an exercise that involves a lot of bending, folding, stretching, and balancing, so wearing something that’s form-fitting is the way to go.

Properly Fuel Your Body

Like with any exercise, it’s important that you fuel your body so you are able to push through your workout. However, you don’t want to overdo it with a big meal immediately before your session as this will likely result in you feeling nauseous. Pilates places a large focus on the core, so a stomach full of food could prevent you from moving freely, therefore harming your session.

Instead, make sure your pre-workout meal is fairly light, made up of some protein and carbs. Alternatively, if you’re attending a morning class and prefer to work out on an empty stomach, just make sure to properly fuel after your workout with a balanced meal to replenish your energy levels and aid your recovery.

Stay Hydrated

Leading on from the last tip, it is incredibly important that your body is properly hydrated for your workout. Regularly drinking water is a great habit to maintain in general, but even more important before and after your Pilates session. This is because it’s likely that you’ll break a sweat during your class, which leads to electrolyte imbalances. Drinking plenty of water allows you to replenish important vitamins and minerals and avoid the unpleasant effects of dehydration.

Also, Pilates places a lot of emphasis on mind-body connection, which means dehydration-induced brain-fog can further impede your Pilates performance. Drinking water increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, which results in better brain function. This, in turn, will make it far easier to practise the mind-body connection that is so essential in Pilates.

Tune into Your Body

When attending a Pilates class, it’s important that you listen to your body and respect its limits. Often, when attending a workout class, it’s tempting to fall into an all-or-nothing mindset, which can sometimes do more harm than good. Of course, it’s natural to want to push yourself and test your limits, but Pilates is about working with your body – not against it. Pay attention to how your body feels during each movement and modify as needed to maintain proper form and alignment. Remember, progress in Pilates is measured not just by strength and flexibility gains, but also by how well you can connect with and honour your body’s needs.

Follow Your Instructor’s Guidance

Listening attentively to your instructor is paramount for maximising the benefits of your Pilates practice. Instructors provide valuable cues and corrections to ensure proper form and alignment, minimising the risk of injury and optimising muscle engagement. Additionally, they offer tailored modifications to accommodate individual needs, allowing you to adapt the practice to your body and abilities. By following their guidance, you can fully engage in each exercise and derive maximum benefit from your pilates reformer classes.

The Takeaway

By putting these tips into practice, you will hugely increase your chances of having an effective and enjoyable Pilate’s session. Wear suitable clothing, nourish your body adequately, stay hydrated, tune into your body’s cues, and heed your instructor’s guidance to maximise your results. Experience the difference these simple steps make and sign up for a session at one of our Godalming or Guildford studios today.

Source: https://thepilatesmovementstudio.co.uk/getting-the-most-out-of-your-pilates-class-top-tips/