What You Need For Your First Pilates Class

You did it! You signed up for your first Pilates class. You’re probably excited but also have a lot of questions and may not know what to expect. Let me ease your mind with the few things you need to bring and the ones you can forget about. 

Start With an Introduction to Pilates Class

At b.Pilates & Fitness and the other studios I’ve worked at, there is an Introduction to Pilates before you start regular classes. We do a three-session group introduction or offer three private sessions at our studio. During these classes you’ll learn the basics of Pilates, but also a lot more. 

Coming into a new space can be intimidating, and the introduction series brings you into the studio with a small group of others new to Pilates. You will learn where the studio is, where to park, where to put your shoes and things. You’ll get a tour of the studio (where is the bathroom, again?!), an overview of the various apparatuses, and studio etiquette, like cleaning the equipment. 

Most importantly, however, you get to know us and we get to know you! We’ll get an idea of your strengths, weaknesses, past or current injuries, how you learn, your needs, and what you hope to get out of Pilates. You get a feel for how we teach and our experience and get to ask us questions. 

What to Wear

Sure, those Pilates influencers online wear some pretty tight, expensive-looking workout gear (that was probably sponsored, by the way). At our studio, we want you to be comfortable! Since you’ll be moving your body in all the ways it can and using equipment with moving parts, there are some things to keep in mind when you come to your first Pilates class: 

• Fitted clothing (it doesn’t need to be tight!) is best. Long shorts, pants, or flowy clothing can get caught in the springs or just be annoying as you are working out. 
• Most men wear the shorts that have a fitted thigh-length short built in with a slightly looser short on the outside. 
• Wear layers! As you start moving, you’ll get warm. Think about wearing a fitted top that won’t ride up as you move, with a long sleeve shirt or sweatshirt overtop.  
• You don’t need shoes and are most certainly welcome to go barefoot in the studio. If you get cold feet, you could wear socks – though Pilates grippy-socks are best. Personally, I feel safer and more connected with bare feet. 

A Few Other Things

You can get sweaty doing Pilates. I personally find it to be a different kind of sweating than what I get when I run, ride/spin, or do a HIIT class. You might want to bring along a small towel and a water bottle. 

What You Don’t Need to Bring

The great thing about Pilates is that you don’t need to bring a mat or any other equipment. Unlike yoga, where it’s encouraged to bring your own mat, Pilates studios have special mats.  They are actually upholstered mats with moon boxes, handles, and a foot strap. These offer a way to better stabilize your pelvis while you move your body, help you get a better stretch, or give you the ability to execute some exercises that are very difficult without the strap. 

It helps you to learn how to use your body differently – in a more connected or controlled manner. Eventually, you’ll find that you can do the same exercises with more ease without the strap or dowels. I personally never miss an opportunity to use the straps or dowels, even though I can do these same exercises without them – They just feel so much better!

Bring an Open Mind

Pilates may surprise you, so keep an open mind. During your first Pilates class, it may not even feel that hard. In fact, it should never be super hard. You will be challenged for sure, and over time as you become more aware of how you move, it will become even more challenging. It’s a weird balance of it becoming both easier and more difficult the more you do Pilates. I’m into my 20th year of doing Pilates and I still love it because there is always more to learn. You might love it too.