9 Challenges that newbies to Pilates encounter
This has happened to me a few times now at social gatherings. When I’ve mentioned to people that I am a Pilates instructor, women come out of the woodwork to share their story of how they tried it once or twice, and they were either so sore that they never went back, or they just felt too uncomfortable trying to the exercises.
I must admit, there was a time when I would have shrugged off such comments, just accepting that it was not their ‘thing’ …. until I too had a bad Pilates experience.
It happened just over a couple of years ago (in the heady pre-Covid days) when I joined a friend to do a Pilates class at one of the major Sydney gyms. What can I say; it was a truly scary class. There was no easing into the movement and even some of the early exercises felt so disjointed and challenging that I could not get into a rhythm. I was able to simplify a few moves so I could still get the benefit of it, there were no modifications offered to students. Looking around at the class who were mostly 40+ women like me, I could only see distress in their faces and very few people were doing the exercises with good form.
No wonder some people run away from Pilates if their first experience is something like this. Pilates is supposed to be a purposeful, mindful practice. I cannot think of another fitness/movement practice that is so accessible to everyone, regardless of fitness level or body shape (when done right). Pilates offers in droves what our bodies need at this time in our lives: Core strength, postural rebalancing, reduced risk of back pain and the ability to move better, without adding more stress to our days.
In the video below, I cover some of the most common challenges or sticking points that I see in women when they are first starting out with Pilates. Some of these challlenges fade with time and practice, and others can be overcome with ‘work-arounds’ and modifications. Either way, they can be dealt with so that your workout best serves your body, either in home practice or in a studio class.
Do any of these feel familiar? Have they stopped you from going back and giving Pilates a second chance?
1) discomfort in lying on your back
2) Neck discomfort or pain
3) Difficulty in staying in tabletop position
4) Difficulty in doing the exercises with straight legs
5) Diffculty sitting on the floor with straight legs in front
6) Sore knees
7) Sore wrists
8) Hip discomfort when lying on your side
9) Remembering to breath
Do any of these apply to you? Let me know if any of these ring true for you and if my suggestions help.😍😊
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