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How to Know If You’re Doing Pilates Right

  • Author: lesley.logan
  • January 18, 2018
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Pilates is a unique balance of strength, stretch, reach, contract and flow.  Pilates exercises are easy to make look “right.” I like to think its because Pilates is designed to make everything you are already doing in life better. So, the moves are not crazy (well ok some look bit crazy) they are natural movements our bodies should be able to do.

Like most workouts and group classes it’s easy to go into the room and do the choreography. But, unlike most workouts when you do Pilates exercises to look correct or to look like the person next to you there is a strong chance you are not feeling it in the right places.

So, if the exercises look right how do you know if you are doing them correctly? What are some ways to ensure you are doing Pilates correctly?

First, let me say that if it feels easy or it doesn’t make sense you are probably missing the concept of the exercise or some muscular connection. That doesn’t mean that if everything you are doing in Pilates is super hard, your muscles are burning and you are sweating that you are doing it right. But, that every exercise is part of a workout and should feel like you are working.

Second, not every exercise is good for everybody. There are 500+ exercises in Pilates. Some will be ideal for you and others will not be. Or, you may need to build your way up to those exercises.

Here are some tips for navigating your way through your own Pilates practice

  1. Connect: If you are on your mat pay attention to what body parts are touching that mat. Without bearing down how can you use the mat to support or assist you with the exercise? As you rolled up did you touch the mat the whole way up or skip a few spots along the way? When you are on the Reformer or any other piece of equipment with springs how can you tell the springs the rate to close? As you move through your exercises are you partnering up with the equipment or fighting it? Pilates is not just about connecting to your muscles but also connecting to the apparatus to support you and challenge you.
  2. Ask Questions: My Youtube channel has loads of “how-to” videos as well as practice tip videos. If you’ve been trying to “get” an exercise and just can’t seem to find it in your body check out my playlists for the mini version on how to do it. Then if you have questions use the comments space to connect with me.
  3. Practice Regularly: my online mat classes here and Pilates Anytime are amazing resources for maintaining your Pilates practice. One way to know if you’re doing Pilates correctly is to keep doing it. If the beginning exercises get tougher then you are on the right track. If they seem to be getting easier you are missing something. Use LLOGAN for 30-day free trial to Pilates Anytime and register here for $5/ week mat classes with me.
  4. Private Session: I get that having regular Private Pilates sessions is not always possible. But, at least one here and there to supplement the online, group or home practice you are doing is essential. To find an instructor near you check out my tips here. Or, contact me for an online Private session via Skype or Facetime.
  5. Trust and Consistency: Pilates is a practice. I repeat, Pilates is a practice. It’s not a Perfect. If you continue to show up regularly for your Pilates it will tell you if you are doing it right.

If you find yourself in a mat class or taking a class online at home and you are wondering if you are doing it right just remember that the person next to you might not be doing it perfectly. And, as I mentioned above it is not about being perfect. Rather, it’s about being connected to your own body, to your equipment. And, something you’ll discover in your Pilates journey is that the feeling in each exercise is quite personal to you. Your fingers and toes might not be doing the choreography perfectly but you can still be doing the exercise right.

Challenge your Pilates practice with me this week! Register for my weekly class and feel the mat beneath your body.

Pilates is a Practice. Remind yourself that whenever you wonder “Am I doing this right?”

xx~LL

By lesley.logan

Lesley Logan, NCPT, is the founder of OnlinePilatesClasses.com, the first free online catalogue of Pilates exercise tutorial videos, where you can also find weekly online mat classes and workshops. When not teaching from her studio in Los Angeles, Lesley can be found traveling the world leading Pilates retreats, or offering Pilates business coaching to studio owners and other instructors through her private mastermind group. Connect with Lesley on instagram @lesley.logan or through the contact page on this site.

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Loving this Pilates exercise tutorial? Take weekly online Pilates mat classes with OPC Teachers.
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Enjoying Lesley's teaching style? Willing to travel? Explore the world while maintaining your practice by joining Lesley on a Pilates retreat.

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2 comments

  1. I recently started doing mat Pilates with Pilates cards that I got from Amazon. I’m a beginner, and prefer to workouts on my own. Finding this information gave me confirmation that I’m doing it right even though sometimes my hips would move slightly out of the alignment.

    Since Pilates is slow, can you still reap the benefits of it even if your doing at a slow paced manner?

    1. Hey Patricia, when you’re learning Pilates the pace might be slow. But, its important that you don’t move too slow. Those little muscles that we use to do Pilates don’t have as much endurance as our bigger dominant muscles. So, as you can pick up the pace and try to remain in control. I have an intro series and weekly all level classes that can help you see the pace you want to work with on onlinepilatesclasses.com. This is a great question! xx

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SUCH A TEASE

ONLINE MAT & REFORMER PILATES CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:

Teaser is probably one of the most photographed exercises in Pilates. Which makes people think it's a "peak pose." But, it's anything but! It's simply another layer to your Pilates practice. This week we will acknowledge how each exercise contributes to your ability to do Teaser (someday) and then how Teaser teaches you where to get curious in your practice.

On the Mat we will use light weights for one round of Teaser as they can be helpful for those still adding into their practice.
No props on the Reformer.

See you in class,

xx~LL

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, light weights and a Mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a Reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.

PINK PONY

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Let's talk Horseback? Its not an exercise you might know if you only do the Mat. So when you see Horseback think Spine Stretch Forward. However, both exercises look possible when you see them. Only to be discover there are many many layers. On the Mat we'll focus on what Spine Stretch forward reveals we need to work on and what we might be ready for. On the Reformer Horseback is a revealer exercise. Its not one you go slow on. And, it definitely shows where we have work to do!

See you in class,
xx-LL

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.


UNDER THE SEA

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

This week’s theme is water named exercises - swan, swimming, seal, and crab. Here’s what’s awesome about these exercises - you learn swan before you learn swimming, and you learn seal before you learn crab. So, when it comes to swimming or crab, you can always replace it with swan or seal as you build yourself up to swimming and crab. And you may be able to practice the crab exercise today if it’s not in your regular practice because we’re going to break it down.

On the reformer, there are swan and swimming exercises, but no seal and crab exercises. However, there are exercises that are similar, and there are exercises that can support you so you can practice seal and crab exercises. Maybe even give it a go after your reformer practice to see how it helps!

Mat Prop: Magic Circle
No props for the reformer.

See you in class,
Christine

BUILD IT UP

ONLINE MAT, REFORMER, CADILLAC & WUNDA CHAIR PILATES CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:

We are extra excited for this month’s theme: Build It Up! It’s the perfect theme to meet you where you are in your practice.

We’ll start each exercise by doing a few reps of a basic version of the exercise, then we’ll gradually build into the full expression by adding more pieces. We are giving you options to work on any version you feel confident with, so you can find the best version for your body this month. How cool is that?

Props needed:
Mat: No props needed
Reformer: Reformer box and pole
Tower: No props needed
Chair: Reformer box, foam roller is optional

See ya in class,
xx-LL ????

IT TAKES 2!

Online Mat, Reformer, Cadillac & Wunda Chair Pilates Class Descriptions:

Yaasss, it does take 2 to make a thing go right! This month, we’ll only be doing 2 reps of each exercise on the Mat, Reformer, Wunda Chair, and Cadillac/Tower. This is such a fun challenge for our bodies. Have a towel nearby because we’re gonna’ work up a sweat!

Props needed:
Mat: Magic Circle
Reformer: None
Tower/Cadillac: None
Wunda Chair: None

See ya in class,
xx-LL

UNDER THE SEA

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

This week’s theme is water named exercises - swan, swimming, seal, and crab. Here’s what’s awesome about these exercises - you learn swan before you learn swimming, and you learn seal before you learn crab. So, when it comes to swimming or crab, you can always replace it with swan or seal as you build yourself up to swimming and crab. And you may be able to practice the crab exercise today if it’s not in your regular practice because we’re going to break it down.

On the reformer, there are swan and swimming exercises, but no seal and crab exercises. However, there are exercises that are similar, and there are exercises that can support you so you can practice seal and crab exercises. Maybe even give it a go after your reformer practice to see how it helps!

See you in class,
Christine

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, Magic Circle and a mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.


SUMMER SUMMER SUMMERTIME

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Summertime brings all types of fun activities such as paddle boarding, hiking, biking, swimming and more! This class will focus on some of the strength needed for these activities. Mindi loves paddle boarding, so she will show you some of the exercises that help her with that activity! Let's work the whole body and have some fun with Summertime!

Mat - stretch band or leggings to use as a stretch band
Reformer - no props

See ya in class,
Mindi

SUMMER SUMMER SUMMERTIME

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Summertime brings all types of fun activities such as paddle boarding, hiking, biking, swimming and more! This class will focus on some of the strength needed for these activities. Mindi loves paddle boarding, so she will show you some of the exercises that help her with that activity! Let's work the whole body and have some fun with Summertime!

See ya in class,
Mindi

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, stretch band or leggings to use as a stretch band and a mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.


HAPPY FEET

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

During our lives, our feet carry us up to 100.000 miles (160.000 km)! I would say "Great job!". Unfortunately we often don´t give them the attention they deserve. Joe Pilates saw the importance of foot strength and mobility and invented special appartuses and exercises like for example Foot Corrector and Footwork.

In this week's classes on Mat and Reformer we are going to focus on integrating our feet in our routines. With strong feet that are mobile and stabilizing we gain a healthy posture, a better circulation and good connection to our Thass! Lets get started.

Mat Props: Mat, firm small ball (for example tennis ball), small towel
Reformer Props: Magic Circle, 2 Yoga blocks (both not absolutely necessary!)

See you in class,
Yasmin

BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Wondering when to breathe in an exercise? If you're new to Pilates I don't love to overwhelm you with instructions on how to do an exercise, what to focus on AND when to breathe. So, if you're brand new please don't let the breath cues overwhelm you. Please just keep breathing. If you've been doing Pilates for a while, this week focus on your breath. Does it help you get more out of an exercise?

Also, if possible, breathe in and out through your nose.

No props needed.

See ya in class,
xx-LL

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.


TREE HUGGERS UNITE

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Tree & Hug a Tree are 2 of my favorite Pilates exercises! They both have fun variations, promote amazing posture, and help us feel more powerful every time we do them. Let’s increase our connections to these 2 faves!

You’ll need a Magic Circle. A ball or a pillow can be used as a substitute.

See you in class,
Tami

UP, UP, & AWAY

ONLINE MAT, REFORMER, CADILLAC & WUNDA CHAIR PILATES CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:

We are all going to feel like Super Humans after this month!!

Whenever I’m in a hard exercise (for me) where I’m holding myself up with my arms and reaching my legs away I picture myself with super human strength!!! I can do ANYTHING! It makes me smile and helps me stay STRONG.

This month our exercise is Up Stretch and when you think about it - reaching your legs away and staying strong over the carriage may feel a lot like flying!

We’ll be focusing on stabilizing our strong cores while staying equally balanced in our arms and legs. We are giving you some amazing building blocks by merging strength and stretch in all directions. You are going to get a little bit of everything that you can use to connect to your Up Stretch (and even your Roll Up and Knee Stretches Off).

Chair: Please have a foam roller and a balance pad available. We are going to challenge your balance safely.

xx-LL