Your Pilates Practice Changes with You

We all have a catalyst for starting Pilates. Whether a friend told you how much they love Pilates, your doctor recommended it to strengthen your core, you researched and found that it would help your posture (that's me!), or your curiosity was piqued by social media - there's something that brought you into the studio. When you begin Pilates, you're usually focused on what you want to accomplish right now. Maybe you're hoping to get stronger, move with less discomfort, improve your balance, or simply feel better in your body. As you continue practicing, though, something changes....actually, a lot of things change!

You change. And your Pilates practice can change with you.

Your goals will likely evolve as your body responds to consistent Pilates practice. You might start to notice that you move around more easily, feel fewer aches and pains, and feel stronger or have better endurance. What felt awkward when you started Pilates eventually becomes familiar, and we start to explore new exercises or variations. It's common to take up new activities once you begin practicing Pilates. That's often because Pilates helps you move better and feel more confident that your body CAN support a variety of movement modalities.

That's where the progression and variation in Pilates become so interesting.

There are countless ways to build upon the exercises you already know. We can add or subtract springs to change resistance, try a familiar exercise on a different apparatus, introduce balance or coordination challenges, or progress into more challenging exercises. We customize exercises that help support your other activities and lifestyle goals. We also use props such as the magic circle, ball and dumbbells to help you make better connections with the muscles that are engaged in each exercise. We frequently hear from our clients that Pilates is fun because there is so much variety!

Progression isn't always about doing something harder.

The foundational Pilates exercises can become surprisingly challenging as your practice develops—not because the exercises themselves have changed, but because you have.

As you become stronger and more experienced, you begin to understand the details of each movement more deeply. You approach each exercise with greater intention and more precision. You notice your alignment. You refine your control. You become more aware of your breathing, your positioning and how you're using your body. The same exercise you learned as a beginner can feel completely different when you practice it years later. If you've worked out with us in the studio, you can probably attest to the most foundational of the Pilates exercises - The Hundred. It never gets easier because you keep getting better!

Progression isn't a straight line - and it doesn't need to be.

Sometimes we move forward by adding a challenge. Other times we focus on refining what we already know. Sometimes we need to step back temporarily so that we can move forward again. This is especially true if you've had a pause in your practice. If you have taken a few weeks off for an extended vacation - you can probably attest to this. The first couple of sessions after your break feel a lot harder than usual!

I personally experienced this firsthand earlier this year while recovering from surgery.

For several months, I practiced only foundational Pilates. I wasn't trying to get back to advanced exercises as quickly as possible. I focused on rebuilding strength, reconnecting with the basics and paying attention to how my body was responding. As I became stronger, I gradually layered in more progressions. Now I'm beginning to ease back into the advanced work with confidence.

Pilates is a lasting practice because it can be adapted to your needs and goals through every stage of life. There is always something to work on, whether it is mastering the basics, working on a challenge or improving the way that you move through your everyday life.

Your goals will change. Your body will change. Your life will change.

Your Pilates practice changes with you, every step of the way.