An Introduction Guide to Pilates Classes for beginners

Pilates is a popular form of exercise & pilates instructors seem to be a dime a dozen these days – every gym assistant seems to be qualified enough to take the afternoon pilates class & there are private studios in every suburb across Joburg.

It's quite a buzzword in terms of exercise trends & it's been popular for quite a while now, but if you've never attended pilates classes then you're probably wondering what exactly it is.

Pilates is a fitness system that was actually developed way before it became popular. In fact, it was actually developed in the first half of last century by a German called Joseph Pilates. The system started out with mat exercises, incorporating apparatus for resistance training in order to achieve a method that strengthened the body's core & resulted in the mind being exercised with the body.

Modern day pilates has evovled into contemporary forms that draw on modern medical knowledge in order to maximise the effectiness of the movements & exercises. Today's methods are highly effective at strengthening your core muscles, developing good posture & balancing body & mind.

Pilates is also a brilliant exercise for injury rehabilitation & the exercise routine can be adjusted to suit the type of injury, or even incorporated into your usual fitness routine. There's no high impact at all & exercises are adapted to ensure that you don't strain the injury while you strengthen your muscles. That also makes it perfect for pregnant women who want to keep fit & healthy during pregnancy.

I suggest choosing a pilates instructor that has a good level of experience in the field. There are plenty of DVDs out there that promise to take you from zero to pilates instructor in just a few hours, but there's something to be said for someone who has properly studied the techniques & has a sound knowledge of muscular structure & how the body works. A qualified instructor is really important, especially if you have previous injuries that still affect your exercise routine. So find out how long the instructor studied for, which institution they got their qualification from & which school of pilates they follow.

Your first time in a pilates studio will be quite daunting because there's all sorts of strange equipment lying around – some of might even look like it's straight out of a medieval dungeon, but rest assured there's nothing to be afraid of.

You'll be introduced by the instructor to the equipment – either at the first class or as you go along & learn the pilates movements. In the beginning, however, you'll be concentrating on the simpler methods as a beginner, to condition your body & prepare it for more complicated movements.

In terms of what to take to your first class, your studio can advise you. Most studios will provide a pilates mat for you for the beginner's course, with the expectation that you buy your own mat when you move on to the more advanced courses.

Make sure that you wear comfortable clothes that allow you to stretch & move freely, Avoid lose clothes that get in the way & also bear in mind that the instructor will often need to monitor your body position to ensure that you are doing the exercises correctly.
Footwear isn't an issue as pilates is done barefoot, so you don't have to go out & buy an expensive pair of shoes for the class. You'll also want to avoid wearing too much jewellery or anything that hangs or dangles & can get caught up in the equipment.
Take a towel & a bottle of water with you so that you can hydrate if you need to.

Before you start a class, make sure you have notified the instructor of any previous injuries, surgery or if you are pregnant.

The beginner's pilates class will take you though all the basic movements in the sessions, using mat exercises & the apparatus to strengthen your body, relieve stress & condition the mind & body together.
Try to go with a course that offers manuals so that you can always practice the methods at home while you learn. That way you can do additional exercise in your own time, memorise & master the movements faster, & you always have a manual to take with you on holiday if you have to miss a class.

Once you've done the beginner's course or module, you'll already feel a big difference in your body – your breathing will improve & so will your posture, & you'll have more core strength, which will relieve a lot of back & neck problems you may have had. By that stage you'll probably be hooked & already signing up for the intermediate course.

Pilates ia a highly-beneficial form of exercise & is great for anyone, no matter what age, shape or size.
If you're thinking of trying a new type of exercise, or you're looking to get off the couch, look at finding a pilates class near you. It's a challenging fitness routine that won't exhaust you, so you don't have to be super fit to try it out.

Look for a pilates studio with a good instructor, a range of equipment & smaller classes to ensure individual attention.
If you want, you can also opt for an individual session, which are more expensive, but worth it if you want to target specific needs like back ache, pregnancy-safe exercise or injury rehabilitation.

If you do your research beforehand, you'll find yourself a suitable pilates class & be well on your way to physical & mental fitness in no time.

Living & working in Johannesburg, South Africa