Last week, my cousin brought me to my very first pilates class! Knowing nothing about pilates heading in, I was surprised by how fun and tough it was (I’m still sore two days later!). Although I was a little intimidated by the reformer machine and all the gadgets associated with it when I first walked into the classroom, I got the hang of it after the first few exercises. After that, it was easy sliding into new positions and working out the whole body.
Afterwards, I got a little deeper into the literature about what pilates is. First developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates, this low-impact exercise is known to improve balance and condition muscles. Those practicing pilates focus on the original six principles: concentration, control, center, flow, precision, and breathing. Compared to yogo, pilates emphasizes core strength instead of flexibility.
My cousin goes to a studio called Paris Pilates on a regular basis, so I joined in for free as a first time attendee. As with most fitness classes, the instructor was upbeat, motivational, and attentive. It was easy to fall into the flow of the class and glide on the reformer with the rest of the people in the room. While I might not be a regular at a pilates studio, I will certainly be on the lookout for a free class here and there and join in!
Published on August 19th, 2019
Last updated on April 1st, 2021