Have You Ever Noticed?

The idea of going to a Pilates class can be intimidating. You may think that you need to be a certain age. It’s only for women. You have to be flexible or strong. It’s for dancers. You must wear matching sets. The list goes on. Take a look around – none of that is true! Have you ever noticed…

• That the hundred is a challenge for everyone in the class?
• That the person beside you cheers you on when you are attempting a new exercise?
• That everyone is welcome and we have a Pilates option for everyone? 

The truth is that there’s a Pilates option for everyone, it’s a super supportive community, and yes – we all find the hundred hard. At least, that’s the case at b.Pilates & Fitness and any other studios I’ve been to. 

Everyone Can Do Pilates

One of the biggest reasons to love Pilates has to be that it can work for anyone, no matter their age, fitness level, or physical restrictions. Does that mean you can jump right into a Pilates class? Maybe! Sometimes clients will need to do more one-on-one sessions before they can join a regular class, but most people can get started right away. At b.Pilates & Fitness, we require that you do a short, 3-class intro series so we can get to know each other, your limitations and goals, and get you familiar with the studio and equipment. 

Here are just some of the types of people you may come across in a Pilates studio:

• At one point, our client base was almost ¼ male, so this definitely isn’t a women-only club. All genders are welcome. 
• We’ve had clients as young as twelve and as mature as eighty-four. 
• There are brand new students and others who’ve practiced for years. 
•  Most are active individuals who hike, bike, run, dog walk, ski, lift weights, do yoga, care for children, grandchildren or parents.  
• Many have come to us because of some kind of ache, pain, injury, surgery, or other special condition.  Pilates was something that they either learned could help them through doing their own research, or it was recommended by a practitioner like RMT, physio, chiro or MD.  

If you’re ready for something new, to make a change, or to build a stronger foundation to support you in all of your other activities, Pilates is for you, too. 

We’re Cheering You On

Coming into a room of people who know what they’re doing (or so it appears) when you’re new can be scary. You’re just going to have to trust me, though, that no one is secretly judging your newness. Everyone in the room has been new to class, struggled with setting up the apparatus, or forgotten how an exercise goes. Even your Pilates teacher has been there before! I remember my first classes and workshops; I think I sweated more from nerves than from the actual workout. 

Pilates is incredibly welcoming, and your classmates are here to cheer you on (some loudly and others silently). They all remember their first successful rolling like a ball or teaser on the long box. It’s exciting to achieve these exercises, even if they are messy at first. And they will be. Messy Pilates is okay, but unsafe Pilates is a no-no. 

Everyone Finds The Hundred Hard

Pilates is meant to challenge your body in order to help you get stronger, more flexible, and more mobile. Everyone is challenged by Pilates in different ways, but the hundred is probably the most groaned-about of them all. So why is it that the person who just started Pilates, the person who’s done it for 15 years, or is a Pilates teacher, all agree that this exercise is tough and worthy of complaint?

In the beginning, you’re learning a new thing. Your body isn’t used to it, you have lots to think about, and maybe you need to gain strength. You might need to modify or do less repetitions. This is normal and perfectly understandable. In fact, Pilates is designed to meet you where you’re at – yet another reason to love it! We want you to move your body, challenge yourself, and stay in the best form possible to gain the most strength and control while avoiding injury. 

So why is the hundred still challenging for a seasoned Pilates practitioner? Because the more you learn the exercise and get deeper into the method and “why” of Pilates, there is more to focus on. You will work on finding length, the two-way stretch, control, and deeper connections (this all may sound foreign to you, and that’s okay). 

 The cool thing is that we can have all levels of ability and experience in one room doing the same foundational exercises, and everyone gets something out of it.

Take a Look Around

Whether it’s your first time or your hundredth time in a Pilates studio, take a moment to notice the variety of people around you, all working on their own goals, while also supporting one another. It’s pretty awesome.