Before you start anything new it’s good to know a few things: 1) How often to do Pilates and 2) when will you feel the results. This knowledge will not only help you feel confident going into your practice with reasonable expectations, but it will also help you commit to the practice so that you do get the results you’re looking for.
The thing I love about Pilates is that you will feel its results sooner than you will see them. Which makes it so much easier to want to keep making time for your Pilates practice.
There is a quote by Joseph Pilates, “In 10 sessions you’ll feel different, 20 sessions you’ll look different and in 30 sessions you’ll have a whole new body.” But people forget the rest of that sentence….”if you do Pilates 4 or more times a week.” I also think he had an ad that mentioned returning peoples’ money.
The truth is, if you’re doing Pilates 4+ x a week then in 2 and a half weeks you should be feeling some amazing benefits of Pilates. Maybe even sooner!
- more energy
- awareness of how you feel in your body
- ease in standing and sitting taller
If you continue practicing, then in about a month you will notice changes in your body like
- better posture
- ease of squatting
- strength where there was weakness
- flexibility where there was tightness
And the benefits become compounding as you continue.
I don’t love to promote weight loss as I am not a dietician nor do I think one needs to lose weight or look a certain way. However, because of the postural benefits you will look as if you lost weight even if your scale doesn’t move. I believe that the “whole new body” means you’ll feel younger, stronger, taller, more flexibility, freeness in movement and a mind body connection that will carry you through your day.
After 16 years of doing Pilates at the time I write this, the benefits of Pilates continue to amaze and surprise me. I can go into another fitness class and do an exercise I have never done and have strength beyond what a newbie should expect. I can go on long hikes and feel amazing the next day. Your Pilates practice will help you literally do life better.
I’d love to hear from you when you started to feel the results of Pilates in your body and what they are. Let me know in the comments below.
xx~LL
