Congratulations on making the decision to start practising Pilates on a regular basis. The health benefits and physical improvements that you will feel are now well within your reach. But now that you’ve made the decision, you could be starting to second guess yourself; “Am I going to be any good at Pilates?” “What actually happens in a Pilates class?” or “I’ve never done Pilates before, am I going to be able to keep up?”.
It is perfectly natural to be apprehensive when you start something new but don’t let nerves derail the great journey that awaits you when you start practicing Pilates. If you are familliar with yoga, then you can expect pilaties will be the same as what you need to know about yoga before taking your first class.
Introductory Pilates Courses
If you feel nervous jumping straight into a group Pilates class, there is an Introduction to Pilates Course offered by most Health Clubs, that can give you the confidence to get the most out of a class when trying Pilates for the first time. The Introduction to Pilates course allows members of all skill levels to learn the fundamentals of Pilates and members who are familiar with Pilates to refresh their skills and technique. The class is taught by a specialised Pilates teacher, who will have completed the Pilates Teacher Training Courses offered through a Health Club, in affiliation with ESOP (Elixr School of Pilates), an industry-leading Pilates training provider.
The Pilates introductory course will help you understand Pilates’ philosophies and ensure you learn how to safely and correctly use the equipment.
Learn from the best teachers
Most Health Clubs employ only the finest, dedicated Pilates teachers, many of whom have completed the Pilates Teacher Training Course offered. These Pilates teachers live and breathe their discipline and have all taken their own health and wellness journey, which has to lead them to focus on Pilates. This specialised teacher training course ensures you are being guided on your Pilates journey by someone who has chosen to specialise in Pilates’ practice, rather than a trainer who may dabble in many different areas of fitness and may not be up to date with current methods and techniques.
Know your physical limitations
If you have never taken a Pilates class before, you may not be familiar with what areas of the body will be activated. If you have any sort of injury or impairment, it is important to advise your Pilates teacher, as they can tailor the techniques to ensure you can complete them safely and comfortably. .Everyone can practise pilates It is just important to know what your body can and can’t do, as pushing yourself beyond comfort can lead to injury or strain, so it’s vital that you (and your Pilates teacher) know what your limitations are. Another reason for identifying your areas of weakness is that Pilates can be used to aid in recovery from injury. For example, if you are recovering from a back injury, Pilates is a very gentle strengthening exercise that will work to strengthen and stabilise your core, which will, in turn, support the rest of your body and absorb some of the pressure that would otherwise be carried by your spine and aggravate your injury.
If you are already a member of a Health Club, speak to one of the Pilates trainers and let them know your goals so that they can follow your progress and ensure you stay on the right path and get the most out of the many authentic Pilates classes.