Pilates

I’ve heard people recommend Pilates. A while ago I did an online yoga course 10 mins/day, 6 days/week. I remember finding the beginning harder than I expected. I liked the fact that I could do it at home without an audience. My flexibility and core strength improved so it felt worth doing. Afterwards my balance was better and getting up from the floor easier. The daily activity was the key rather than going to a class once a week. After a couple of months I lost motivation and stopped. Hope you have kept going. Good luck with it.

I've just started a weekly 1 hour class but I've found some NHS pilates videos on YouTube including one for people with arthritis. Too soon to say if they are helping. They have confirmed how poor my balance is!

What’s the difference between mat and reformer Pilates?

I had dance training for many years, so I consider myself supple and flexible.
But when I started it, Pilates was something else!! It's the holding in position while counting that did it for me, the instructor kept telling me to slow it down, which I wasn't used to. Eventually I got the hang of it and it has improved my balance. Good luck!

LucyAnna5

What’s the difference between mat and reformer Pilates?

I think reformer pilates is more like a gym workout?

I have been doing Pilates led by a physiotherapist for a year. Initially I thought I was getting more flexible but as time went on I think I was trying too hard and have eventually ended up with gluteal tendonitis possibly my fault doing the exercise wrongly at home. The physio is now straightening me out with an exercise programme. I tried Chair Pilates which made me feel like a patient in a Day Hospital. We have agreed that Pilates is not for me.
I would be very wary off doing Pilates without proper instruction.

I have been doing Pilates for 30 years, really enjoy it and find it beneficial.

I love mat pilates great for flexibility and building strength. I also like tai chi - slow but calming. Reformer is where you use those machines that look like torture implements.

Regular Pilates at local Leisure Centre with qualified instructors. Absolutely brilliant!!!

Much improved pelvic floor strength
Better balance & stability
Increased core strength

Cannot recommend too highly. I’m nearly 70, there are many older participants in the classes, all abilities

I've been going to mat pilates classes for decades tbh I would worry about starting pilates without having an instructor in the room as I think it's important to have someone checking that you are doing exercises correctly, especially if your core is weak. I love reformer pilates but it's expensive and I think you get more out of it if you are already fairly experienced with mat pilates. I mix pilates with strength training. I wouldn't say that pilates has transformed my body except at 77 it looks pretty much the same as it did when I was 50, which is OK by me.

I’ve done Pilates for years , but now do yoga and weights . Yoga for balance and flexibility and weights for bone strength and resistance training as there’s a history of osteoporosis in my family .
I really like reformer Pilates but it’s expensive.
Personally for yoga and Pilates I think you need to have an instructor in the room and a smaller class , so they can adjust your positions and make sure you’re doing it right .