Pilates Exercises For Beginners – A Complete Guide

Getting yourself into a new fitness class can be pretty intimidating. If you are not sure if Pilates is the right program for you, then fear not! This article will provide you in-depth knowledge about Pilates exercises for beginners. Everything from what it is, what to do, when to do it, the benefits, and the many forms it comes in, and other relevant questions you might have.

WHAT IS A PILATES WORKOUT

Pilates is a form of exercise that was developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates in Germany. It focuses on strengthening the body while emphasizing core strength. Pilates, just like yoga, concentrates on posture, balance, and flexibility. It is a low impact exercise, so the risk of injury is comparatively low to other strenuous forms of exercise. You can do it with or without using any equipment.

Pilates workout exercises focus on the mind-body connection. During the various pilates exercise sessions, your mind needs to be constantly aware of how you breathe and the way your body moves. While you control your breathing, you will have to perform slow, precise movements. With Pilates, you can expect to have improved posture, flexibility, and mobility as it strengthens and stabilizes your core, which is the center of gravity of the human body. The abdominal muscles, lower back, and hips make up your body balancing foundation, and it’s the
main component to stabilizing your body’s posture. Pilates exercises can be modified depending on the person’s fitness level (ranging from a beginner to an advanced level). The intensity of the drills can be increased gradually as your body adapts itself to the different exercises. An ideal Pilates workout should last from 45 to 60 minutes.

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF PILATES

Joseph Pilates

(from Mönchengladbach, Germany) developed Pilates (originally Contrology). His mother was a naturopath while his father was a gymnast. In the early 20th century, he developed a system of exercises that would strengthen both the body and mind. Joseph Pilates believed that mental and physical health were interconnected. He developed his method of exercise by practicing the various physical training regimes available in Germany.
During the 1920s, Joseph Pilates immigrated to the United States and opened a Pilates studio in New York City. He published two books related to his training method. Your Health: A Corrective System of Exercising That Revolutionizes the Entire Field of Physical Education (1934) and Return to Life Through Contrology (1945). Some of his first students went on to teach Pilates. Contemporary Pilates is a mixture of both Modern Pilates and the Classical/Traditional Pilates.

CAN I DO PILATES EXERCISE?

A lot of you may have this question in your head. If pilates exercises can be modified to provide firm conditioning and toning of your body and to answer your wondering question, yes, it can. Because of the nature of the Pilates workout, most people should have no problem doing the pilates workout plan. The design for both beginners and people with intermediate fitness levels. As a beginner, you should start with the basics and then move on to more advanced moves once you can keep up with the necessary training regimen.

When starting, it is a good idea to go to a pilates class or hire a private tutor. The instructors will make sure you are doing everything right to avoid injury and get the most out of your workouts. If you are an older adult, pregnant, have health problems, or haven’t exercised in a long time, then make sure to check in with your physician. Pilates is not for you if you have the following conditions:

• Unstable blood pressure.
• A herniated disk.
• Severe osteoporosis.
• A risk of blood clots.

PRINCIPLES OF PILATES

The majority of Pilate classes are based on 9 major principles.

Breathing:

Breathing is an essential part of Pilates exercise. Joseph Pilates said that increasing the intake of oxygen will consequently increase the circulation of oxygenated blood to every part of your body, which has a detox effect on your body.

According to Joseph Pilates, the key to proper inhalation and exhalation is, and I quote- “squeeze out the lungs as they would wring a wet towel dry.” During Pilate exercises, breathing needs to be directed laterally into the lower rib cage to keep the lower abdominals close to the spine.

Posterior lateral breathing is utilized in the Pilates breathing system, where the practitioner breathes deep into the back and sides of their rib cage. When exhaling, practitioners are instructed to keep a note of their engagement with deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles to maintain this while inhaling. Pilates coordinates this breathing practice while in motion.

Concentration:

An intense focus is required while doing Pilates. The proper form is the most crucial part if you wish to reap the full benefits.

Flow:

Creating flow-through static movements and appropriate transitions is an integral part of Pilates. The exercises are intended to seamlessly flow within and into each muscle group to build strength and stamina if you can do it with precision.

Control:

Pilates was initially called “Contrology,” as it was based on the idea of muscle control. The muscles work against gravity and resistance to control the body’s movement.

Centering:

To control their bodies, you should start with the center. The focal point of Pilates is the center. Instructors refer to the muscle groups at the center (the abdomen, lower and upper back, hips, buttocks, and inner thighs) as the “powerhouse.” Every single movement in Pilates begins from the center and then moves outward to the limbs.

Alignment of posture:

Doing Pilates exercises while having a correct stance, will correct your muscle imbalances and optimize your coordination.

Precision:

An essential part of Pilates is doing precise and correctly ranged motions rather than many half-hearted ones. Your goal will be to attain accuracy and understand the workouts to add your implementations.

Stamina:

Pilates will increase your overall endurance. There is less stress to perform the exercises as motion is very limited when compared to other disciplines, and you can achieve maximum efficiency because of repetition.

Relaxation:

Correct exercise and improved mental concentration are enhanced with the relaxing factor of the isometric moves. Pain is a pleasure, after all.

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF PILATES

One of the primary reasons why people exercise is because of the fantastic health benefits. Pilates has its fair share of health benefits, as well. Some of these are shown below:

Improved posture:

Pilates exercises require the body to always be in alignment. As a result, you will gain and maintain a proper position in your daily life. This is convenient if you have back pain.

Toned muscles:

Pilates targets several muscle groups. It includes muscles you may not engage in your daily endeavors. Even though Pilates is specifically designed for the core, it works your entire torso(abdominals, hips, the inner and outer thighs, and the back). So, the workout will train your whole body. You’ll see that your muscles will be more toned after you get past the initial soreness. This is great for older people or people who usually are quite inactive and in need of necessary strengthening of their bodies as you lose muscle mass and strength with age and inactivity. Plus, it’ll make you look good!

Flattened stomach:

Pilates focuses on strengthening your core (your core includes your abdominal muscles). So, expect your abs to get more defined.

Improved Flexibility:

Pilates exercises will slowly make you more flexible. You’ll be amazed at how flexible your body can get with a little tuning. Excellent flexibility will help you out in sports, martial arts, and other activities that require you to use your body. Plus, a great way to reduce damage from fall-related injuries.

Improved Balance:

The intricate mind-body connection that is brought about by Pilates will make you more aware of your body’s movement and can measure against your previous physical performance. Not only will your balancing be improved through correct posture, but your mind-body connection will be invigorated.

Reduced stress:

Pilates is an excellent way to relieve stress. The static holds and tight contracting of your muscles will increase the overall blood circulation, which has a tranquilizing effect and helps you cut down on weight.
A sense of well-being:
An overall understanding of well-being can be achieved through Pilates as a way to balance the mind and body connection.

A sense of well-being:

An overall sense of well-being can be achieved with pilates as a balance between the mind and body is established. Plus, if you want to get even more out of Pilates, then you can check out these fun facts and you will be sure to have reinforced motivation to do Pilates.

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PILATES CLASSES

Pilates has 2 distinct classes. Mat classes and Reformer classes. Mat classes are, well, done on a mat. The mat is a bit thicker compared to your standard yoga mat and is used to cushion pressure points. Reformer classes are done on a machine called a reformer. The reformer is a sliding platform with a stationary foot bar, springs, and pulleys. These help to provide resistance. Before committing to a specific class, it’s a good idea to get a basic understanding of each type and maybe practice at home.

MAT CLASS

Although Pilates is mostly associated with the reformer, don’t think any less of the mat classes. The exercises are performed on the floor and aimed at improving flexibility, tone muscles, and fixing posture.

Mat Pilates is recommended if you’re a beginner. It will introduce you to Pilates concepts and train your mind and body to climb up to the more advanced techniques. The fundamental idea of Beginner Pilates is incorporated into mat pilates. Beginning from breathing, centering, concentration, control, precision, and flow.

Everything from Mat Pilates can also be more complicated than weight-based workouts since your performance depends entirely on you. Just slight concentration the first couple of days to maintain correct posture is all you need to do the exercises correctly. You also need to keep watch on how your body is reacting to the activities and changing.

Certain poses require equipment like medicine balls, resistance balls, or a pilates ring. Some of the popular moves are the pelvic curl, the hundred, and Mountain Climbers.

Mat Pilates has several benefits. It is suitable for any fitness level. Not only will it improve your posture, but also your athletic capabilities, flexibility, and endurance. This, too, will decrease your body fat and improve your balance. An advantage mat classes have over reformer classes is that mat classes don’t require a reformer, you can easily do the exercises in the comfort of your home.

REFORMER CLASS

The reformer has a bed-like frame with a flat platform. It rolls back and forth within the frame on wheels. A set of springs is used to attach the carriage on one end of the reformer. The springs can help you adjust the level of resistance as the carriage moves back and forth along the frame. Shoulder blocks are attached to the carriage so that you don’t slide off the end of the reformer while the carriage is moving back and forth!

An adjustable footbar is located at the spring end of the reformer. While moving the carriage, both your feet and hands can use the football. Long straps with handles are also found on reformers that are attached to the top end of the frame. You can pull them with either your legs or arms to move the carriage. What makes the transport more or less difficult to move is your body weight and the resistance of the springs. The different parts of the reformer can be adjusted to suit different body sizes and different skill levels.

Most of the reformer exercises involve pushing or pulling of the carriage or holding it steadily as the springs pull it. The reformer comes with a lot of versatility. You can exercise while lying down, sitting up, standing, pulling the straps, or pushing /perching on the football, and the shoulder blocks. Additional equipment can assist you to do a wide range of motions to maintain upside-down positions, sideways, and many other variants.

Reformer classes will get you flat abs, a strong back, a toned butt, and firm thighs, along with better posture, efficient movement, relief from back pain, and physical imbalances.
The magnitude of resistance and the variety of movement help to build stronger bones. Eccentric muscle contractions is a unique feature provided by the reformer that lengthens your muscles as it resists force. This enables you to gain strong muscles without bulking up( a reason for Pilates’s popularity).

Remember, the stronger the core, the better your balance, posture, and overall well-being. The reformer’s full name is the universal reformer because anyone can practice reformer Pilates.

OTHER EQUIPMENT

Besides the reformer, different pieces of equipment are used in Pilates. They won’t show up in most beginner classes. A piece of modern equipment is the Cadillac. It’s an exciting piece of equipment that you might mistake for a medieval torture device at first. It has a bed with a mat on top and a three-sided frame covering the top and bottom parts of the bed. It’s 6 feet tall.

Equipment like leg & arm springs, loops to hang from, a push-through bar, and a trapeze is attached to the frame. Cadillacs are often absent from group classes as their large size makes them inconvenient to use in a limited space. You will have to look for private Pilates classes that offer at the Cadillac. All kinds of stretching exercises are done on the Cadillac. It is pretty useful if you find lying down for prolonged periods tedious.

Other pieces of equipment include The Wunda, a low chair with padding and springs, the spine corrector, the high chair, and the Magic Circle (a ring used between the legs to create resistance.) These are helpful for various exercises. They are used for isolating, strengthening, and stretching different muscle groups. Most of this equipment can be found in private Pilates studios.

PILATES FOR WEIGHT LOSS

Pilates is handy for toning, building lean muscles, and improving posture, and yes, it will help you lose and maintain a healthy weight. However, compared to other aerobic exercises like running or swimming, Pilates will not be as effective for weight loss. But don’t fret as regular Pilates classes will still aid in weight loss. Just combine Pilates with a healthy diet and possibly some other forms of exercise like walking, swimming, running, cycling, or traditional strength training.

Research

Research regarding Pilates Exercises For Beginners is pretty mixed. A study conducted in 2017 by PubMed observed 37 obese women (aged 30-50) who practice Pilates for eight weeks. Even though the women had lower weight, lower BMI, toned waists, and decreased abdomen and hip circumference, their lean body mass (body fat weight subtracted from total body weight) remained unchanged. It was compared to a group doing no exercise during that time.

Another research conducted in 2015 observed women who were postmenopausal (aged 59-66). Researchers found no change in body composition after the participants had done mat pilates for 12 weeks. The participants, however, did have significantly increased abdominal, upper, and lower limb strength. The suspicion rises that no change in body composition occurred because no dietary restrictions were in place. This field requires more research. Excluding weight loss, the health benefits provided by Pilates is confirmed by research.

Another research conducted in 2015 observed women who were postmenopausal (aged 59-66). Researchers found no change in body composition after the participants had done mat pilates for 12 weeks. The participants, however, did have significantly increased abdominal, upper, and lower limb strength. The suspicion rises that no change in body composition occurred because no dietary restrictions were in place. This field requires more research. Excluding weight loss, the health benefits provided by Pilates is confirmed by research.

Yet another 2015 study proved that Pilates is excellent for injury rehabilitation (like chronic lower back pain).
Stats

The number of calories you can burn through Pilates will depend on your weight, whether you’re taking mat or reformer classes and the difficulty level of the class.

A person weighing 150 pounds will burn 175 calories on a beginner mat class lasting 50 minutes and 254 calories on a more advanced level, as proven by the American Council on Exercise (ACE). You’ll burn more calories in a reformer class. To give you an idea about how calories affect weight loss, burning 3500 calories will shed 1 pound.

Reformer classes can burn more calories than mat classes. One thing you can try doing if you’re not interested in reformer classes is combination classes. You can try Piloxing (Pilates and boxing) or Yogalates (yoga and Pilates.) This way, you’ll burn more calories. Participate in combination class a couple of times a week for best results. If you’re not interested in these, then you can always alternate Pilates with strength training and cardio exercise.

You should also be aware of the Pilates effect on the body. Pilates can help you to have better posture, toned muscles, and a toned core. Because of this, you will appear to have lost weight. That’s because of toned up muscles making you look more fit overall even if you haven’t lost a lot of weight.

Don’t forget to keep a journal for your diet if you want to lose weight. A regulated diet is just as important as exercising. Have healthy meals, and stop snacking. Eat protein, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Be wary not to consume less than 1200 calories a day. You can always check an online BMR calculator to find out exactly how many calories you need to reach your target weight goal.

So, the bottom line is, even though following pilates workout routine is great for toning the muscles, improving posture, and injury rehabilitation, it alone can’t help you lose weight fast. Yes, you will lose weight, but not as quickly as you’d want it to when you think Cardio. So doing other types of exercises alongside Pilates, combined with a healthy regulated diet, will give you the best possible results.

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PILATES FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY

Rehabilitation clinics and wellness centers nowadays offer Pilates classes. They deliver it as physical therapy. As mentioned previously, Pilates does wonders for recovering from injuries. Through Pilates, you can treat Chronic neck and back pain, Hip or knee replacements, Fibromyalgia, and Multiple Sclerosis. If you’re an athlete, dancer, or sports professional who’s suffering from injuries, then Pilates can help you overcome the injuries and get back in shape. Pilates is a low-impact workout, so as long as you have a trained and qualified instructor, Pilates can be tailored to work on specific areas of your body.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOGA AND PILATES CLASSES.

Yoga and Pilates share a lot of similarities. Both focus on the mind-body connection and involve intricate poses. The significant difference between Pilates and yoga is that Pilates can incorporate equipment and is more focused on providing a complete workout. Where yoga is more concerned with spiritual well-being and relaxation, Pilates focuses more on toning and strengthening.

COMMON BEGINNER MOVES

Pilates has an established set of moves that are common in beginner classes. they are:

• The Hundred: Breathing exercise that targets core strength and stability.
• Leg circles: Will strengthen hips and core stabilizers.
• Series of 5: A group exercise that aims to strengthen the abdominal and back muscles.
• Rolling like a ball: Well…literally rolling like a ball to massage the spine and open up the back!
• The roll-up: Stretches the spine and the back of the body while strengthening the abdominals through slow, precise moves.

WHAT TO WEAR

No matter how much you love loose clothing, form-fitting clothes are a must for Pilates. It ensures that the instructor can see your moves better, and your clothes don’t get caught in the equipment.

In a lot of exercises, you’ll be lying down, and your legs will move above you. So ditch the shorts if you don’t want them riding up! The best combination would be to wear capris or leggings along with a tank top or fitted long-sleeved shirt. As for your feet, you can exercise barefoot or wear socks. The protocol for footwear differs between studios, so do check up in advance. If you’re planning on wearing socks, then make sure to get a pair with rubber detailing on the soles. They’ll prevent you from slipping on the mat or equipment.

TERMINOLOGY

All workouts have their own set of languages, including Pilates. The “powerhouse” refers to your body’s center, where all the power comes from to perform moves. “Peel through your spine” refers to movement from vertebra to vertebra. Don’t worry! You’ll get used to these terms very soon. Try taking help from regulars to familiarize yourself with everything.

PILATES ABS WORKOUT

Ab workouts can be pretty dull with endless annoying repetitive moves. But not in Pilates. Pilates not only sculpts you a powerful core but keep things interesting while doing so. Let’s look at 3 popular and effective Pilates ab workouts for beginners and how to do them.

Wind down:

While keeping your knees bent and your feet hip-distance apart, sit on the center of the mat. Bend your elbows, make a fist with both hands and stack your fists on top of each other in front of your chest. Circle your fists around each other. While doing so, roll downwards, inhaling and curling your tailbone under (this will scoop the abdominals in) and stop just before touching the mat. Get back up while exhaling, winding your arms in the opposite direction. Do 5 reps.

Footwork:

While lying on the center of the mat, bring your knees into your chest. While curling your torso resembling the letter “C” and head up, look at your abdomen and stack your palms over each other and place them behind your head. Keep your heels together, and toes pointed out. Keeping the knees shoulder-distance apart, turn them out. On a high diagonal (a minimum of 45 degrees from the ground), send your legs out and hold. Bend your knees back towards the ears. Do 10 reps.

Side Bend:

Fold your right leg under your body and extend your left leg out to the side in a straight line while sitting on your right hip. Place your right hand on the ground next to your hip and bend your left knee slightly while using your right knee to push yourself up to balance. Flex your left foot and lift your right leg while pulling your abs. Place your right leg behind your left leg. Place your left hand on your hip and then throb your hips up and down by around two inches while keeping a straight right arm. Do 8 reps and switch sides each time.

Hopefully, this article will improve your overall understanding of this exercise system and you will know what is Pilates exercises for beginners all about, it should help you decide if you want to invest your time and money in this effective workout. Now that you know what is Pilates, weight loss is just a few weeks away.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)