REFORMER PILATES CONFIDENCE
Feel good about your journey in reformer pilates from the second you step into the studio.
It might be spooky season, but trying a new workout shouldn’t be scary. We’re excited to introduce reformer pilates classes at our studios, and we want to make sure you feel right at home trying a class as well. Here are five tips and tricks to help you feel confident the first time you step into a pilates class.
HAVE FUN WITH ATHLETIC WEAR
Over the years, pilates has become known for having a bit of an aesthetic. If you look up pilates fits on Tiktok or Pinterest, your feed will quickly be filled with sports bras and matching sets. These outfits, cute as they may be, aren’t just meant to look good on Instagram or in your post-pilates coffee run. They can be great for allowing comfort and flexibility as you move through class. But the same can be said for a baggy shirt and basketball shorts if that’s what you feel best in. What we think is most important when getting dressed for pilates class is that you choose something you feel comfortable in. Our clothes can give us a confidence boost, and research shows that what we choose to wear can in fact change how we perform. You want to feel good moving in your outfit and ideally feel like you’re showing up as your best self as well!
ARRIVE EARLY
While it’s true that the pilates reformer isn’t nearly as complicated as it seems, it’s still worth giving yourself time to get acquainted with its ins and outs before class starts. Try to get to the studio a little early. That way, you’ll have a chance to meet your teacher. They’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have and give you a little introduction to what their class tends to look like. They’ll also walk you through how to use your reformer so you can put your best foot forward when class gets started.
ASK QUESTIONS
Whether you’re able to arrive early or not, asking questions should not be reserved for before class. If at any point during or after class you’re unsure of what you’re meant to be doing or would like some clarification on how to best move through an exercise, don’t hesitate to ask. Form is an important part of pilates. How you’re holding yourself while moving through an exercise can affect which muscle you’re doing, so if you want to make sure you’re strengthening the intended muscle, asking is always a great option.
BE KIND TO YOURSELF
If you’re a regular in one of our other workout classes, or have been working out on your own somewhere else, whether you realize it or not you’ve likely built up a level of skill in this workout. It can be easy to forget how hard that class was the first time and to expect that you’ll slide easily into this class as well. If that’s the case, you might be taken aback when you take a pilates class and realize how hard it is. Other practices will give you transferable skills, sure, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be a pilates expert the first day. But remember, if the workout was already easy, there’d not be much of a reason to do it. No one is expecting you to be able to do every move perfectly, or even do them at all. What matters it that you show up and that you’re giving it your all.
BRING A FRIEND
If you’re still not sure about trying out a new workout, why not bring a friend along with you to try? Everything’s easier with a friend by your side. Even if you fall out of every hold the whole class, at least you can both laugh about it afterwards!
Format aside, all of our Oxygen Yoga & Fitness classes are built on the same ideology. Classes are all open to levels, designed to meet you where you are, and community is always at the forefront. So no matter how much or little pilates expertise you have, and how nervous you may be about trying, you’ll be sure to find a class that works for you and a room filled with people cheering you on. Find a class near you, and we’ll look forward to seeing you in the studio soon!