the Price of Pilates Classes

This was a seven week Pilates mat course with sessions once per week. This beginning course was designed for students who have limited experience with the Pilates method or those who desire to build a stronger foundation before moving up to an Intermediate level course. The course incorporated the Joseph Pilates Method, which focuses on working the core muscles of the spine, hips, and abdominals to achieve lean muscle mass, efficient movement, and improved alignment. In this Pilates mat course, students worked on the floor using their own bodies for resistance. The course was conducted in a group of 20 and included the use of some small Pilates accessories and props, such as light hand and ankle weights, theraband, bars and Magic Circles. The first two sessions covered the basic Pilates techniques then more challenging combinations were taught. The exercises were designed to stretch, strengthen and elongate muscles without adding bulk. The facility provided mats and accessories for those who did not bring their own, so the $100 course fee covered everything that was needed for each class. Each session lasted approximately 50 minutes. The session were conducted with the instructor providing detailed visual and verbal instruction from the front of the class. The instructor frequently walked around the room to help students adjust their positions in order to achieve safe and stable movement.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Pilates course in which I participated. It was apparent that the instructor was highly knowledgeable, extensively trained and certified. I felt that the instructor not only taught me the proper Pilates techniques, but also inspired me to to understand for myself what the objectives of each exercise were further and to develop a conscious awareness of each part of my body. The breathing techniques I learned in the class were easily adaptable to my everyday life and have helped me to relieve stress on a daily basis. I loved that the approach worked with adults of any age and could be adapted to adults with particular physical conditions. After having two children, I suffered from Diastasis Recti. The instructor helped me to modify the exercise in order to safely regain strength in my abdomen. By the end of the seven week course my abdominal separation was practically resolved. I could also tell that I was longer, leaner and stronger after participating in this Pilates course. I do not have any complaints about the service that I received. I felt that the course was an excellent value given the instruction that I received and I intend to take the intermediate and advanced courses in the future.

I recommend researching different Pilates courses before choosing one. Some Pilates classes utilize the original Joseph Pilates method while others use modified versions including Fletcher Pilates, Stott Pilates, Power Pilates, and Winsor Pilates. Some studios allow you to take an introductory course for free or pay for one class individually instead of paying for a complete session. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with a teacher and his/her teaching style. Be sure to note if the teacher is a certified Pilates instructor. Also, pay attention to the way in which the instructor addresses the class: are her instructions clear, is she mindful of students' form and fitness level, is she professional and knowledgeable? You definitely don't want to take a class with an instructor who confuses you. You want someone who provides good verbal cues and demonstrations and with whom you feel comfortable interacting. I would not recommend taking a Pilates course with a group of more than 20 students as each student needs to be provided with individualized attention. You must practice the exercises correctly in order to reap the benefits and avoid injury. Thus, the teacher should provide personalized attention as it is impossible to monitor yourself objectively. The instructor must recognize that your body and movement habits are not the same as anyone else, and work with you accordingly. The only thing I wish I had known beforehand was how to pick a class that was right for my level. This sounds like a basic concept, but I initially signed up for the intermediate course as I had taken a Pilates class the previous year. After speaking with the instructor I felt comfortable retaking a beginners course. It allowed me to gain more strength before moving up to the next level and the exercises I felt were too easy were modifiable.