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What is Pilates? And WHY YOU SHOULD BE DOING PILATES

  • Author: Lesley Logan
  • June 18, 2023
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surprising benefits of Pilates. why you should be doing pilates online pilates classes

How much Pilates changed my life

Hi, I’m Lesley Logan and I want to tell you how much Pilates changed my life. It made me taller, and stronger, it improved my flexibility in ways that balanced my strength and made sure I had zero injuries as a runner. And at the end of this video, you might just thank me because Pilates could change your life too.

Welcome to OnlinePilatesClasses.com™, the most supportive Pilates-loving community across the globe. Enjoy new weekly classes from our amazing teachers. Download the OnlinePlilatesClasses.com™ app today.

Benefits that you can have when you start Pilates

Hey there, Lesley Logan, here, founder of OnlinePilatesClasses.com™. And let me just tell you, I went to my first Pilates class back in 2005. And I thought no way is it what all the hype is about. Well, I was wrong. In fact, it was so much more than what the hype was about. And I left feeling taller and stronger after one class. But then after this many years of doing Pilates, what I’ve seen is incredible. It is backed by science. And I have seen it happen not just in my practice, but in all the people who’ve come through OnlinePilatesClasses.com™. And so I’m gonna go into all the benefits that you can have when you start Pilates.

So let’s talk about those physical benefits. First, cognitive function, that’s gonna be incredibly awesome for you. Then, we also are going to have improved posture. Why? Because we have a stronger core and your core is not just the muscles in the front, it’s the muscle on your shoulders, your front, your back, and your hips. A reduction of injuries. But also, if you have an injury, Pilates can be a rehabilitative practice for you. You’ll have a reduction in back pain, and reduced menstrual pain. You also will see that you’re going to have much more flexibility, and a balance of your imbalances, which means you’re going to see improvement in the sports that you do, the other workouts that you do. For more information about the truth about Pilates, make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel, because we’re gonna have a video for that.

Let’s talk about those mental benefits. So first of all, a reduction of anxiety and decrease in stress, you’re also going to have this mental focus boost, you’ll have a mood boost, you’re gonna have increased motivation. And it’s very intellectually challenging. If you’re wanting to feel these benefits right now make sure you check out our full-length workouts here on the channel.

How Pilates is a movement for life

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Alright, so let’s talk about how Pilates is a movement for life. At OPC, we believe Pilates helps you do life better. And it does this because it’s never Pilates versus. So, it’s not like you have to supplement Pilates for something you already love. In fact, it’s a Pilates AND. So if you’re a runner, notice how Pilates will actually improve your speed but also decrease your strain on your muscles, your joints and injuries. Right? If you’re a weight trainer, a yogi, if there’s already a fitness modality you love, Pilates is actually just going to improve what you’re doing there. Why? Because it balances your imbalances. Right, it actually takes those muscles that you overwork, and it works with the ones that you underwork. And then you actually have this nice overall balance in your entire body. Pilates is also a way that helps you really connect your mind to your body. Oftentimes, we’re walking around thinking our thoughts or feeling our pains in our body. But we actually get to put the two together in a workout. Because when you’re doing Pilates, you actually cannot think about anything else that’s going on in your life. You can only focus on what’s moving where, where am I feeling this.

A community that helps you prioritize yourself first

But to get all of these things we’ve talked about today, you really need to have a community, you need to have some help and support that helps you prioritize yourself first. Let’s be honest, it can be really hard to do that with everything going on in your life. And what we pride ourselves in over at OPC is our community because our community helps you show up even when you don’t want to. It reminds you why you are there. And we help our community out by supporting you with new classes every single week as members. We take the old ones away, which means we help hold you accountable to showing up and taking that class as many times as you can. We also believe that finishing is optional. So if you only have 15 minutes, take 15 minutes of the class we have, and then celebrate what you did do.

Pilates meets you where you are

At OPC, we make sure that Pilates meets you where you are, no matter what level you’re at, we actually can help you replace any exercises that you’re not able to do yet with ones that you can do. And we also have classes on the Reformer, the Wunda chair, the Tower or Cadillac. So make sure you check out How OPC works here. So feel free to enjoy our full-length workouts here on the YouTube channel. But for our OPC members, you get new classes every single week. And you can share your questions your a-ha moments, the connections you made in our members-only group, and you can get feedback on your form. And every single month, when we offer the live workout, you could join us and hang out with us and we can connect all together there.

If you think that OPC and our amazing community can support your practice, well, we hope you join us. If you have any questions make sure you join my YouTube Live every Sunday at 9am Pacific Time. It’s one hour after we drop new videos for you each week here on this YouTube channel. So make sure you subscribe and turn on your notifications so you never miss anything from us.

I’m so excited to meet you Pilates has changed my life and I can’t wait for it to change yours too. I’m here for you. I answer all of my comments. You can leave them below and I’ll see you on the next one.

By Lesley Logan

Lesley Logan, a 2nd generation certified Pilates teacher, breathwork, habits and mindset coach, is the founder of OnlinePilatesClasses.com, the first free online catalogue of Pilates exercise tutorials, where you can also find weekly Pilates classes and workshops. Teaching Pilates since 2008, she has run multiple studios, has trained hundreds of people to become teachers themselves and has taught thousands of students around the world. When not teaching from her studio in Las Vegas, Lesley she’s hosting her podcast Be It Till You See it or traveling the world leading Pilates retreats. Connect with Lesley on Instagram @lesley.logan or through the contact page on this site.

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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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ONE FOOT, TWO FOOT

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

We need to pay more attention to our feet... I know one more thing to add to the list. But! When we pay attention to our feet we get more access to our seat! So lets wake up our feet together and explore what new connections we get!

Props Needed: wash cloth and theraband or old leggings for warm up

See you in class,
-xxLL

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

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

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, pole and a reformer!

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


LET IT GO, LET YOURSELF FLOW

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

We will be working through a flow without a lot of thought and correction. This is a way to evaluate where you are and what you can work on this year! Grab a notebook and if something is not feeling right, let's write it down and see if any of the upcoming classes will help us with that thing or thing(s).

No props needed.

Mindi

WANNA BUTT LIFT?

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

This theme will be a focus on what’s needed for inversion exercises. For inversion exercises, your upper back is what you “stand on” so you need your chest and shoulders open with a strong arm/back connection there. Let’s not over-neck it! Then, you need a strong center and thass to work together to get your hips up. It’s not the hips that are over your neck. It’s the hips up so the legs go overhead.

This means even if inversion exercises are not part of your regular practice, that’s ok. Because guess what? It’s more accessible to find connections when you’re right side up, and then the challenge is to maintain those connections when you’re upside down. So, as long as you’re practicing all the connections when you’re right side up, you’re continuing to build yourself up to have enough strength to someday go upside down. And even if you never go upside down, then you’re building yourself up to hold yourself upright, and that’s what you need to live your best life!

See you in class,
Christine

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Magic Circle

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

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Magic Circle

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


ONE FOOT, TWO FOOT

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

We need to pay more attention to our feet... I know one more thing to add to the list. But! When we pay attention to our feet we get more access to our seat! So lets wake up our feet together and explore what new connections we get!

Props needed:
wash cloth and theraband or old leggings for warm up

See you in class,
xx~LL

THINGS AREN’T ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Things Aren’t Always What They Seem
In this class, we’ll explore the idea that what you see isn’t only what you get. Pilates is a full-body practice, even when an exercise seems to target just one area. We’ll rethink familiar movements and bring awareness to the muscles that often go unnoticed-finding knees in hamstring curls, glutes in your Hundreds, and support where you least expect it. This class is about curiosity, connection, and discovering how everything in your body works together when you move with intention.

Props needed : ball and rod for mat

See you in class,
Megan

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.


ROLL WITH ME

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Its time to focus on the rolling exercises and have fun doing it! If you struggle with rolling there's some gems in here for you. On the Reformer while we won't roll you'll gain insight on how your Reformer supports your rolling mat.

Mat: A dowel is helpful on the mat 

See you in class,
xxLL

WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT

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

In this month's class, we're focusing on changing our perspective when it comes to the exercises we love to hate on. We'll tackle these exercises by strategically combining them with other exercises. By pairing them we hope you’ll discover new ways to connect with the intention behind the movements. Who knows, you might even learn to love them!

Props needed:
Mat: Magic Circle
Reformer: Magic Circle and small ball
Tower/Cadillac: no props
Wunda Chair: no rops

See ya in class,
xx-LL

WE GO TOGETHER

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

"We go together like Ramma-lamma-lamma-ka-dingity-da-dinga-dong".

We all know our Hundred helps all the other exercises. But did you know that on the mat the Spine Stretch Forward exercise also goes together with Open Leg Rocker? Or that Teaser on the Cadillac/Tower helps all the other Teasers on the mat, reformer, and Wunda Chair? And strengthening goes with stretching actions!

This month - let's review some exercises that may already be in your practice that you may not know how it can help your challenging exercises, or maybe even advanced exercises. Never overestimate the fundamental or foundational exercises because it’s all connected.

Hopefully, by the time the month ends, you'll see exercises on various apparatuses that will definitely help your mat practice, as well as other exercises on other apparatuses. With all equipment membership, definitely check out all the monthly classes, and see what progresses or improves over the course of the month. And celebrate your wins! And if anything feels stagnant, let us know in the community app, so we can help and support!

Most importantly, have fun as “we go together” all month long! Bonus points if you sing along with us!

Props needed:
Mat: Dowel
Reformer: none
Tower: none
Chair: Theraband

See ya in class,
xx-LL

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.

ROLL WITH ME

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Its time to focus on the rolling exercises and have fun doing it! If you struggle with rolling there's some gems in here for you. On the Reformer while we won't roll you'll gain insight on how your Reformer supports your rolling mat.

See ya in class,
xx-LL

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: A dowel is helpful on the 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.


WANNA BUTT LIFT?

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

This theme will be a focus on what’s needed for inversion exercises. For inversion exercises, your upper back is what you “stand on” so you need your chest and shoulders open with a strong arm/back connection there. Let’s not over-neck it! Then, you need a strong center and thass to work together to get your hips up. It’s not the hips that are over your neck. It’s the hips up so the legs go overhead.

This means even if inversion exercises are not part of your regular practice, that’s ok. Because guess what? It’s more accessible to find connections when you’re right side up, and then the challenge is to maintain those connections when you’re upside down. So, as long as you’re practicing all the connections when you’re right side up, you’re continuing to build yourself up to have enough strength to someday go upside down. And even if you never go upside down, then you’re building yourself up to hold yourself upright, and that’s what you need to live your best life!

Props Needed : Magic circle

See you in class,
Christine

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