Why two pilates sessions a week are better than one
People ask when they sign up for Pilates lessons “How often should I do Pilates?” Of course there is no standard response, it depends on what kind of results you want. You can reduce minor back pain with two sessions. You can relieve stress at the end of a long week with one session. But if you want to run a marathon without injury, get back into pre-baby shape, or simply tone up those flabby areas ideally, you should make the commitment to Pilates 2-3 times a week.
One of Joseph Pilates’ most famous quotes is ….
“In 10 sessions you will feel the difference. In 20 sessions you will see the difference. And in 30 sessions you will have a whole new body.”
Joseph says in his book, Return to Life Through Contrology (which is a quick and entertaining read originally published in 1945!): “If you will faithfully perform your Contrology exercises regularly, only four times a week for just three months, you will find your body development approaching the ideal, accompanied by renewed mental vigour and spiritual enhancement.”
Ideal body… mental vigour …. spiritual enhancement! Who wouldn’t want all that?!
Although many people use Pilates as an excellent opportunity to focus, and simply use it as an hour of distraction from their busy lives, Pilates does not work fully if you only do it every once in awhile, to benefit most you should commit to a minimum of once a week, every week.
Here’s why:
Pilates has a steep learning curve! It requires regular practice and lots of concentration. There are over 500 exercises to learn. Each exercise has a name and a purpose . Each one has a breathing pattern.
Even the simplest Pilates exercise focuses on multiple things – breathing, coordinated muscle contractions, balance, control. As a beginner you tend to focus on one or two things. As you get more advanced you begin to integrate multiple levels of an exercise. The better you get, the more you get out of it!
Pilates exercises have a distinct progression from beginner to advanced. The same exercise can be made more difficult by making small adjustments, such as adding weight or changing your position. Many of our classes cater for mixed abilities and we pride ourselves on promoting a non-competitive environment – Pilates is not about being the best, it’s about being better than you used to be.
Consider what kind of results you want from Pilates. Even once a week Pilates can:
- Retrain muscular imbalances
- Rehab injuries
- Improve sports performance
- Improve posture
- Increase muscle flexibility
- Increase joint range of motion
- Increase body awareness
- Reduce stress
- Build muscle tone
Although we love pilates here at The Core Zone, we want to you to have realistic expectations, if you expect one Pilates session a week to get you thin… you may be disappointed. But adding Pilates to a fat-burning regimen of cardio and healthy eating can keep you injury free while helping to sculpt and tone.
Pilates As A Habit
Ideally, Pilates is something you do 24/7. Joseph Pilates was all about the mind body connection. Focusing on Pilates concepts everyday can help change bad postural habits (e.g., slumping in your seat, rolling our shoulders forward, standing with your weight on one hip) The more you start to consider the principles of pilates the more natural positive postural habits become. Pilates builds a body awareness that translates into everything you do.
Once a week is great … 2 times a week is better … and 3 times a week is amazing! And remember, Pilates doesn’t have to be your only exercise. Commit to movement, any movement everyday! In time your body and mind will thank you for it.
If you’re keen to see a hint of your Pilates body sooner rather than later, why not book up on an extra course, or join one of our Saturday or Monday morning pay-as-you-go-classes when you have the time, you don’t have to commit forever, participating in one extra class for just a period of 8 weeks will boost your progress, and you will soon be able to see your new long and lean ‘Pilates Body’.
Check our timetable for class times and contact reception to reserve a place.
