{"id":107599,"date":"2025-07-31T13:05:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T13:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/107599\/"},"modified":"2025-07-31T13:05:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T13:05:10","slug":"pilates-is-having-a-moment-heres-whats-to-know-if-youre-a-newbie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/107599\/","title":{"rendered":"Pilates is having a moment. Here\u2019s what\u2019s to know if you\u2019re a newbie"},"content":{"rendered":"

Open this photo in gallery:<\/a><\/p>\n

Pilates is experiencing renewed popularity thanks to its adaptability to all fitness levels.Photology1971\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Once a closely guarded secret in the training regimens of elite dancers, Pilates became mainstream decades ago. <\/p>\n

But the workout, embraced for its accessibility, versatility and transformative benefits, is experiencing a moment anew. You can see the recent explosion in the proliferation of high-end studios, or the more than 120,000 videos using the #pilatesprincess hashtag on TikTok, targeting what Vogue Business calls a \u201ckey consumer group.\u201d<\/a> Legendary athletes and icons from LeBron James and Tom Brady to Gisele Bundchen and Maria Sharapova have credited Pilates for boosting core strength, flexibility and the mind-body connection.<\/p>\n

Fueling the sport\u2019s renewed popularity is a push for foundational strength-based training in a fitness world saturated <\/b>by high-intensity workouts that can elevate cortisol, such as HIIT. Growing research reinforces Pilates\u2019 benefits for injury prevention and long-term performance. Don\u2019t worry, though: A big sweat is still inevitable. <\/p>\n

Despite their popularity, sleep trackers don\u2019t always lead to a better night\u2019s rest<\/a><\/p>\n

Why men aren\u2019t getting a warm welcome at the Pilates studio<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople think Pilates is easy \u2013 it\u2019s not,\u201d says Morgan Reader, former competitive NCAA lacrosse athlete and trainer at One Academy in Toronto. \u201cIt challenges even high-intensity athletes like me to move with purpose, building core strength, flexibility and preventing injury. It\u2019s a powerful reset for both body and mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Pilates appeal lies in its adaptability. All fitness levels can benefit, and whether you want better posture, a stronger core or a gentler recovery from injury, it offers effective, low-impact results. <\/p>\n

While some enthusiasts remain loyal to classical Pilates, many new studios are adopting a hybrid approach, blending traditional movement with strength training and conditioning intervals, whether on a reformer, rower or bike. At Strong Pilates The Beach in Toronto, owner Christina McIsaac uses this approach to help clients pursue a broader range of fitness goals, from building muscle to boosting athletic endurance.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so humbling because you think you\u2019re strong,\u201d <\/b>says McIsaac. <\/b>\u201cI came from CrossFit, where a workout was 250 burpees, and I walk into a Pilates class and can\u2019t perform some of the moves. It will challenge your body in a very different and unconventional way.\u201d <\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re new to Pilates or looking to sharpen your practice, here\u2019s how to get the most out of your session, straight from the experts.<\/p>\n

Come early to get comfortable<\/p>\n

Starting a new movement practice is easier when you\u2019re not panicked to get there on time. <\/p>\n

\u201cBook your first class on a day when you\u2019re not rushing out of the office or from school pickup. Anxiety is the last thing you want to feel when you arrive,\u201d says McIsaac. <\/p>\n

You can meet with the instructor before the class starts to mention possible injuries or learn how to modify movements, ensuring a safer and more personalized experience. Plus, this will help ease any of those first-class jitters. <\/p>\n

\u201cStudios will know you\u2019re a first-timer based on their booking system, so they\u2019re going to go out of their way to make sure you feel comfortable and supported.\u201d <\/p>\n

Open this photo in gallery:<\/a><\/p>\n

Growing research reinforces Pilates\u2019 benefits for injury prevention and long-term performance.FreshSplash\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Pilates will meet you where you are<\/p>\n

Forget the pressure to \u201cgo hard or go home.\u201d Instructors often offer variations for every level, making it easy to scale movements up or down, depending on how you feel that day.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no pressure in the classes. Everyone has their own space and is focused on their journey,\u201d says McIsaac. \u201cYou go at your own pace with no benchmark or rep count you\u2019re forced to meet, like is typical in group fitness training. No one pushes you to do something you\u2019re not ready for.\u201d <\/p>\n

Pilates is a partner, not a replacement<\/p>\n

\u201cPilates is most effective when integrated with other forms of movement because it enhances your overall physical fitness,\u201d says Reader. <\/p>\n

Consider adding heavy strength training, which can help to maintain bone density and muscle mass as we age, as well as aerobic exercise, such as running or a spin class, for heart health. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf anything, Pilates is made for longevity \u2013 you can do this for a lifetime,\u201d concurs McIsaac. \u201cThis is training for the life athlete.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Open this photo in gallery: Pilates is experiencing renewed popularity thanks to its adaptability to all fitness levels.Photology1971\/Getty…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":107600,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[2148,2138,671,104,2132,692,2147,2131,2143,2144,2140,2133,2130,79,407,746,2142,1198,2137,2159,2134,2135,454,210,2139,1165,728,2149,108,2154,2155,2157,2152,2156,2150,2153,2136,85,2146,80,2145,2151,1458,158,1164,2141,67,132,68,1154,107,2158],"class_list":{"0":"post-107599","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness","8":"tag-alberta","9":"tag-arts-news","10":"tag-bc","11":"tag-breaking-news","12":"tag-breaking-news-video","13":"tag-british-columbia","14":"tag-canada","15":"tag-canada-news","16":"tag-canada-sports","17":"tag-canada-sports-news","18":"tag-canada-trafficcanada-weather","19":"tag-canadian-breaking-news","20":"tag-canadian-news","21":"tag-economy","22":"tag-education","23":"tag-environment","24":"tag-federal-government","25":"tag-fitness","26":"tag-foreign-news","27":"tag-globe-and-mail","28":"tag-globe-and-mail-breaking-news","29":"tag-globe-and-mail-canada-news","30":"tag-government","31":"tag-health","32":"tag-life-news","33":"tag-lifestyle","34":"tag-local-news","35":"tag-manitoba","36":"tag-national-news","37":"tag-new-brunswick","38":"tag-newfoundland-and-labrador","39":"tag-northwest-territories","40":"tag-nova-scotia","41":"tag-nunavut","42":"tag-ontario","43":"tag-pei","44":"tag-photos","45":"tag-political-news","46":"tag-political-opinion","47":"tag-politics","48":"tag-politics-news","49":"tag-quebec","50":"tag-sports-news","51":"tag-technology","52":"tag-travel","53":"tag-trudeau","54":"tag-united-states","55":"tag-unitedstates","56":"tag-us","57":"tag-us-news","58":"tag-world-news","59":"tag-yukon"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107599","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107599"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107599\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/107600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107599"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}