I first started going to a Pilates class with a friend who had back troubles and was recommended to take it up to strengthen the muscles and help with the problem. I’ve now been doing it for over a year and a half and I’ve found a small, weekly class that suits me perfectly. Although I have never had any major back problems I do notice tension in my back when I haven’t done any Pilates in a while, and this is a big incentive for me to go every week. I also really enjoy it, although if you’re looking for a dignified, stylish type of exercise I wouldn’t say it was for you- there’s lots of strange-looking exercises!It’s good to have a laugh though when we’re all trying to master a new, silly technique!
One thing I would say if you’re planning on taking up Pilates seriously is that it’s really important to go to a class run by a professional rather than trying to teach it to yourself. This is because alignment is very important and a teacher will be able to correct your alignment when you might not have realised you weren’t doing it quite right. Of course, if you have your own mirrored studio at home and you’re constantly checking everything is exactly where it should be, this won’t be a problem for you but I know it works best for me. Plus going to a class means there’s a regular time when you do your Pilates, whereas for most people it’s difficult to set this time aside at home and stick to it.
