How often should I do Pilates?

I’m asked this question by every single person in their first session with me. And my answer is always the same. As much as you can.

Pilates is often touted as a magic workout that will change your body in x amount of sessions. But truly, it’s not magic. It’s practice. It’s movement. And like anything you get out what you put in.

No workout will transform your body in one hour a week. That would be magic! But nothing works like that. To learn a new language or to play the piano it takes practice. One hour a week won’t move you forward. You can do Pilates once a week and get benefits but the more you do the more benefit you get. If you want to move and feel better once a week might be enough. But if you’re hoping to get Michelle Obama arms you’ll have to do a lot more than one hour a week. Those workouts promising “6 pack abs in 10 minutes a day!” are lying.

To figure out how much you should do you have to decide what your goals are. And then you have to do the work, consistently and patiently. Changing our bodies takes time! A super hard workout one day doesn’t boost transformation. Transform occurs over time. There’s no magic. Consistent work over time equals change.

What is magic about Pilates is how powerful the gentle exercises are. How a few repetitions of small movements can be deeply strengthening. How you can get strength and flexibility out of each exercise.  But the real magic is in the practice.

If you do one hour a week and you are happy with your results, great!  But if you want more results then you have to put in more time and work. That’s how it works.

You don’t have to come to the studio to do that extra work. I’m always happy to give people homework. And when people do their homework they see and feel the difference!  But for many many humans they won’t do the work on their own. They need the appointment to show up for. They require the help of a teacher/trainer to guide them through the exercises. But if you’re motivated and do it yourself you’ll get the results.

You don’t have to do each exercise perfectly. You just have to practice and move. Even 10 minutes a day.

So the answer to “how much” is ultimately up to you. How much do you want to get out your practice?  Pilates is not magic, it’s practice. The magic of practice is real, if you give it time you’ll feel that. You’ll see it. But it’s up to you!