Pilates class can be obtained at every Pilates studio, health club, spa and fitness facility through their own training classes and programs. One of the best things about pilates is that you don’t have to be an experienced athlete or in tip-top shape to do it.
Pilates works well for both beginners’s and experienced athletes. If you are interested getting started in a Pilates program, chances are that there is a Pilates studio in your area. Check with your local YMCA or community college if you don’t have a Pilates studio in your area.
There are two basic types of Pilates workouts. One is the basic mat work. Most pilates studios and community classes offer mat work pilates only. The other basic pilates workout is through the use of pilates machines. Machine work is usually offered through gyms only and requires supervision from an experienced instructor.
So how can you get started into a Pilates class? Here are a few suggestions to finding Pilates class in your area. Fortunately, Pilates is now more accessible than ever before. If you belong to gym or health club, chances are you have easy access to a Pilates class.
Sometimes pilates exercises are done in conjunction with aerobics programs, so check to see if any of the aerobics classes incorporate pilates. If you don’t belong to health club, check to see if there are any pilates studios in your area.
Pilates Studios
Pilates studios are a good choice because they deal exclusively with pilates. Pilates studio instructors generally tend to have greater experience in teaching a various types of Pilates.
Wherever you decide to practice pilates, make sure that your instructor has received certification. Ideally, your instructor will have hundreds of hours of training, rather than a “quickie” weekend long training course.
Don’t be afraid to ask about the instructor’s certification process. Although it appears to be a gentle form of exercise, Pilates class can actually be quite hard on the body, and if it’s not done correctly, it can cause serious injury. If you are new to Pilates, it’s especially important that you practice under the supervision of an experienced Pilates instructor.
Pilates Video
If you have difficulty locating a convenient pilates class in your area, consider purchasing a pilates video that you can do at home. The Internet is a great place to read reviews on different pilates videos and DVDs and choose the one that fits you best.
You should take extra care whenever doing Pilates by yourself because you do not have the benefit of having an instructor supervise your moves. If you are concerned about the price of Pilates classes in your areas, consider this solution.
Take as many Pilates classes as you can afford, then purchase a pilates video that you can do on your own. This gives you the advantage of learning the proper alignment and movement while saving money in the long run. Joseph H. Pilates himself designed the movements so that they could eventually be performed independently of the instructor.
Group Pilates Class
If you have a limited budget, it is a good idea to join a group Pilates class. This is a great, relatively economical place for beginners to start, and have fun. Using standing, sitting and recumbent positions, the Pilates instructor guides students through the various stretches and movements.
Ideally, group mat Pilates classes have a manageable student-teacher ratio, not more than fifteen students per teacher, so the instructor can monitor each individual’s form and progress.
Separate Pilates classes are held for beginner, intermediate and advanced students. With the coming of smaller, less-costly equipment Allegro, more and more fitness clubs are adding group Reformer classes to their program.
Ideally each participant has some experience on a Reformer prior to joining a group Pilates class. Students work through a sequence of Reformer choreography at the proper level in unison, with the Pilates instructor monitoring for safe and appropriate form.
Personal Training Session
The most efficient way to learn, practice and perfect Pilates performance is to go for a personal training session, in which the instructor devotes undivided attention to a student’s specific needs. These Pilates class sessions generally begin with a warm-up on the mat, but a variety of Pilates equipment can be explored as well.
Pilates Instructor
It is estimated that because the pilates craze is so rampant, there are probably numerous working instructors who lack the experience necessary to teach pilates to beginners. How can you make sure you get someone who is properly trained to teach pilates?
Look for an instructor that has received certification from a professional pilates training program. Many commercial gyms provide their pilates instructors with a limited number of training hours, sometimes providing them with only a weekend training course.
Your ideal instructor should have participated in a rigorous training program and received professional certification. The training program should have provided each candidate with hundreds of hours of professional training.
Another consideration when choosing the right instructor and class is to decide how often you will be working out. There are many options to choose from if you have decided to join a pilates studio.
You can attend lessons and pay for each class individually, or your studio may offer you a block of classes. Do you want to do mat work, machine work, or maybe both? Many gyms offer both mat work and machine work.