Pilates: Any experiences or reviews?

Hey there!

I was wondering if anyone here has some experience with Pilates?

I just picked up Brooke Siler's book about getting a Pilates body—the exercises look really well-explained and everything seems great, so I’d love to hear if anyone has actually tried it.

Has anyone given it a shot? How did it go for you? Did you mostly practice on your own at home or did you sign up for classes?

Thanks!

So far, so good—experiences have been solid 🙂

Tried doing it at home and it actually went pretty well, but then I just totally lost my willpower again...

I am honestly having such a blast in this class!
The instructor absolutely shreds us with those stretches—it’s intense!
I don't really have much else to add besides saying I highly recommend it!
😉 🙂

Were you able to do this without any issues when you first started? And how long did it take before you actually began to notice a difference?

I wouldn't even dream of trying to learn that at home without a pro watching over my shoulder—once you've actually nailed the basics, though, then you can mess around on your own.

Anati said:Were you guys able to nail the moves right from the start? How long did it take before you actually started noticing a difference?

I honestly think it’s best to start at a studio where there’s an instructor watching over you.
At first, you probably won't get everything quite right. Even if the movements seem super simple, keeping a slow pace and really engaging the right muscle groups makes them surprisingly tough.
You pick it up gradually. But it's great. You’ll start feeling a shift in your posture and muscle tone after about 15 hours of steady practice—nothing magical, but definitely noticeable.

I gave it a shot.

Man, I felt so incredibly stretched out!

But I’ve hit a bit of a snag. I’m having a really hard time syncing my breathing with the actual movement. I try to take it slow and stay focused, but more often than not, I catch myself just holding my breath, which I know isn't great.

Any tips?

Anyway, holding your breath while you're working out is a huge no-no. Any decent fitness instructor or aerobics coach is going to warn you about that immediately. I mean, how can you even get through a session if you aren't breathing? You really have to make a conscious effort to focus on your breath if it doesn't just happen naturally. In fact, one of the core pillars of Pilates is proper breathing during every movement.

If someone actually has the willpower and puts in the work—plus has a basic understanding of exercise and a big mirror at home—they can definitely try it on their own. Of course, some moves are pretty intense, so you should take things slow and stick to the fundamentals (like, pain isn't a good thing when you're stretching; that's just a sign you've gone too far).

Honestly, a lot of what gets marketed as "Pilates classes" has absolutely nothing to do with the actual Pilates concept. So, signing up for a class isn't always the magic fix, even if it does help force you into a regular routine.

It's not like I could master every single move (and honestly, I still can't). But, given enough time, 🙂 I'll get there... I don't do Pilates just to look a certain way; I combine it with other exercises to help my spine, and it definitely makes a difference...

I’ve finally given Pilates a shot—and honestly, it might be the best workout system I’ve ever experienced (and believe me, I’ve tried pretty much everything out there). My only real issue is that I have no clue where the closest studio is to my neighborhood in New York City, so if we could put together some kind of "master list" or base of local Pilates spots, that would be absolutely amazing. 😉

Not in Savannah, at least not as far as I know.

If anyone happens to know where to find one, let me know.

The upside of living in New York City is that you can find pretty much anything—you just don't get any peace and quiet, but hey, that's life...

Here are a few quick links I managed to dig up for you:

http://www.pilatescroatia.com/

Hope this helps!

Anati said:As far as I'm aware, there isn't one in Savannah.

If anyone actually knows of one, please speak up.

There is, actually... the studio is called Brava.

restlessjackal48 said:Yeah, totally... The studio is called Brava.

Wait, is that the one near the fire station?

And how much are they charging for that?

redgardener5 said:Is that the spot right by the fire station?

And what’s the damage?

Yeah, that's exactly where it is.

It's 120 bucks for twice a week.

o awesome.. I'm gonna try to talk my mom into going 👍

thanks so much!!

👋 If you're a total newbie, do you have to jump in right where everyone else left off? Or are there actual beginner groups—like, maybe it works more like a scheduled course where you just sign up at certain times or something...

I think you guys get what I'm asking.

Just wanted to brag a little—I’ve been hitting up the Brava studio for Pilates for three weeks now and I feel amazing.

In case anyone's looking, a new Pilates studio just opened up over on Main Street in Savannah.

Ladies, you seriously have to try this, it's so good.

Brava also does aerobics, stretching, and lymphatic drainage—plus, the studio is women-only, which is nice.

It honestly feels like there isn't a single curvy woman in sight here. It’s just endless rows of super thin people. I can't help but feel like this place wasn't really designed with us—you know, those of us who are a little more full-figured—in mind. 😁 😁 😁

Eh, I don't know about that. You might be wrong there.

In my beginner class, I actually have a few ladies—not just the bubbly types, but some older women too, maybe around 55—and I gotta say, they really put in the work.

Look, Pilates isn't exactly the go-to if you're trying to drop massive amounts of weight. But you definitely get that toned look, and honestly, you just feel better overall.