Feel like you’ve been attending Pilates classes forever and not seeing any results? Ask yourself these questions. Duo Pilates instructor Anthea Phasey takes you through the most common reasons clients have been feeling blocked – and how they overcame the challenge.
Is your Pilates practice consistent?
Ever heard the phrase ‘consistency is key’? it gets thrown around a lot in the fitness world, but in terms of Pilates this statement couldn’t be more true. One of the main reasons you may not be feeling or seeing the results of your Pilates workouts is your consistency, or lack thereof. While you may be getting some benefits from yo-yoing from 5 classes one week, to a two week break, you’ll find far greater results from building a solid foundation from the get go. For new clients at Duo Pilates, we recommend attending 3 classes a week for the first month. This is enough to get comfortable in the studio, meet other clients (hello, accountability!), and feel stronger, leaner and more mobile.
How often are you going to pilates class?
This roadblock goes hand in hand with consistency. You may be dutifully attending one 45 minute class weekly (that’s fantastic if that’s all you can fit in!) but this frequency may be blocking your progress depending on your goals. As Joseph Pilates, creator of Pilates, famously said, “In 10 sessions you’ll feel the difference, in 20 sessions you’ll see the difference, and in 30 sessions you’ll have a whole new body”. If those sessions are only happening once per week, to build a new body will take far longer. At Duo Pilates, we advise an ideal of 2-3 sessions per week depending on your goals.
Are you *really* listening to the instructor?
Here is where things start to get specific. A common point of feedback I receive from Pilates beginners is that there is a lot to concentrate on. From breathing, pelvic floor activation, correct posture, spinal position, core activation to the movement itself, it can all feel like too much sometimes. My advice is to start with the movement itself. Listen to your instructor, watch closely to what they’re doing and what in particular they are flagging as the essence of the movement. As you get more familiar with each exercise you’ll find more attention can be given to pairing movements with breath and focusing on spinal alignment. Another common difficulty is feeling the wrong muscle group working at any given time. If your instructor is saying you should feel your booty burning but all you feel is your thighs – let them know! They can adjust your placement or the movement itself to accommodate you and give you the best work out possible. So there we have it. If you aren’t seeing results from your Pilates workouts, give these tips a go. The beauty of Pilates is its ability to promote mobility, longevity and strength. With consistency, frequency and focussed attention you’ll be hooked in no time.
WRITTEN BY / ANTHEA PHASEY
INSTRUCTOR BIO
As well as studying Speech Pathology, Anthea is also an instructor at Duo Pilates in Camp Hill, Brisbane. Her favourite part about being a Pilates instructor is seeing clients gain confidence in their movement, and develop a passion for Pilates themselves. To join one of Anthea’s classes, find out more here
