New to Pilates - Trust the Process!

The other day I had a new client try Pilates for the first time. He came from a gym background and I can relate to that. When I started my Pilates practice, I had been lifting weights and doing lots of cardio. I had the mindset that faster, heavier, and more reps equaled better! Pilates is a different mindset and it takes some trust in the beginning to change your approach.

When you are used to leaving a workout feeling beat up and spent, it can feel like maybe Pilates wasn’t enough at the end of a session. Should I really leave a workout feeling refreshed? The answer is a resounding YES!

Working with this new client reminded me of my journey and the beauty of what the Pilates method really is. It’s not abuse for your body. It’s thoughtful, purposeful movement to heal, strengthen, lengthen, and rejuvenate the body. And it works when done right! Unfortunately clients who insist on adding more weight, going fast, and powering through movements may think Pilates doesn’t work because they aren’t really doing Pilates. It’s imperative to listen and trust your instructor even when it feels contrary to what you know.

I didn’t want to slow down and didn’t love that my heart rate wasn’t elevated in Pilates when I began. Within less than a month, I saw my body change. It all started to click and make sense. I had trusted my instructor and she was right. The bonus - I loved it. I could never really say that about lifting weights.

I share this with you today incase you are struggling to change your mindset in Pilates or maybe you haven’t tried Pilates yet. Trust! Be patient! Suspend your beliefs about what a workout should be and be present. You just may be pleasantly surprised with how good movement can feel!