FAQs
What is Pilates?
Pilates is a method of exercise designed to strengthen and balance the mind and body. It was developed in the early 20th century by German national Joseph Pilates, a gymnast, boxer, and bodybuilder, who called his method “Contrology,” the art of control. Joe Pilates was passionate about whole body health, and his method quickly became popular, particularly with athletes and dancers looking to improve their performance.
A Pilates workout is high intensity, low impact, meaning you can work hard and build strength without increasing wear and tear on your body. This makes it the perfect system for both avid athletes who want to increase performance sustainably, and people who want to get into exercise for the first time with minimal risk of injury.
How many times a week should I do Pilates?
That depends on your goals, and how quickly you want to meet them. For most people, 2-3 full length sessions a week will get them results within two months and keep them rapidly moving towards their goals. Once these goals are met, they can often be maintained at just once a week.
Which kind of session should I book?
This is mainly influenced by three factors: your goals, your schedule, and your budget. For anyone who has an ambitious goal, is managing a significant history of injury, or is new to physical exercise, we recommend starting off with Private sessions. This will allow us to develop a personalized program that addresses in detail your personal goals and challenges.
For those who are already physically active and looking to supplement their current routine, a combination of mat classes along with the occasional private will give you a potent blend of consistency and specificity to take your performance to the next level.
Online Mat Class FAQs
What are online classes like? I’ve got serious zoom burnout and am skeptical about adding more screen time to my day.
We are right there with you! Online workouts have a lot of perks (no commute! Zero carbon footprint!) but extra screen time is appealing to exactly no one.
We’ve designed our classes with this in mind, and give 90% of instructions verbally. Not only does this mean you don’t need to look at the screen to do the workout, it also means you can focus on maintaining healthy form instead of getting a crick in your neck trying to watch us the whole time.
How can I tell if I am following the directions correctly? It’s hard not to have a visual to double check with.
Working from verbal instructions has many benefits, but it can be challenging at first!
If you’re totally out to sea, peek at the screen to see if you can get a glimpse of your classmates, or choose to rest during an exercise that seems too difficult or confusing.
It’s also 100% fine to take your best guess. As long as the movement feels good in your body, you’re doing something right!
What if a class is too easy/difficult?
Since classes are all levels, it’s important that you modify exercises to your unique body.
Your teacher will give several options for most exercises, but if you know something would feel good (going faster than instructed, resting between exercises, etc.) go for it!
I felt some pain or discomfort during or after class. Is that normal? What should I do?
Pilates has the potential to feel very intense at times, especially if you’re new. A certain amount of discomfort is normal and expected, but nothing should ever feel sharp or painful.
If you find yourself tensing up in your face and shoulders due to discomfort, you’ve probably pushed a little too far. Modify if needed, or take a rest and rejoin class on the next exercise.
Not being able to do an exercise can feel discouraging, but if you show up consistently and gently with your body, I promise you’ll feel yourself get stronger week after week!
How long will it take for me to see results? Will I notice any changes during my first week?
Sustainable change in the body happens gradually, with most people seeing progress in 6-8 weeks (with 2 or more classes per week). However, most people feel the difference Pilates makes in their energy levels almost immediately!
I had a really rough day/week and I feel too tired/sore to workout. Should I skip class?
Please come if you can! So often our self care is the first thing to get jettisoned under stress. This can seem logical at the time, but it the long run it makes recovery a much longer and rougher process than necessary.
We know your needs change day to day, which is why we have 6 classes a week for you to mix and match to suit your body and your schedule. The Rest and Recovery Mat class is especially designed for days where a full on workout isn't what you need.
My schedule is really full, and I can’t always make the live classes. Do you offer recordings?
We find that the accountability of a live class is one of the greatest gifts we can provide our members, so at this time recordings are not available. If this is a feature you’d like to see in the future, please let us know!
What class should I start with?
While all our classes are all levels, we recommend picking from the following (like a personality quiz!) to find your best fit:
Are you managing chronic low back pain or nervous about hurting your back when working out?
Our Low Back Love mat class with Hannah (a former low back pain sufferer herself) was designed just for you!
Are you looking to add some zest to your morning that will leave you refreshed and energized all day long?
Check out our Morning Espresso Mat with Ian ! (Note: this class is not recommended as an intro for anyone managing injury or who is completely new to exercise.)
Do you love the restorative, relaxing aspect of yoga?
Are you looking to wind down, breathe deep, and give your body some serious TLC (we’re talking self massage, gentle stretching and more) all while building some serious core strength? Look no further than our Rest and Recovery Mat with Hannah (who in addition to Pilates brings in her knowledge as a dancer and yogi).
My kids/pets/spouse make a lot of noise! Will this be a problem during class?
No problem! Mics are on mute the whole time, so be as loud as you like! (If you have a burning question, you can always ask us after class).
Are other people going to be watching me workout?
Feel free to turn off your camera for total privacy. We won’t be able to see your gorgeous face (or give you personal feedback), but your comfort is key, so do what you need to do to feel good.
A spot JUST opened up in my schedule today! Can I sign up for Mat classes at the last minute?
Yes! All classes are available for enrollment up until 5 minutes before the scheduled start time. If you're ever having a hard time getting into a class you want to take at the last minute, just email us before class and we'll send you the link.
Pilates FAQs
Is Pilates a good workout for men?
Yes, one of the best. It was after all developed by a man, Joseph Pilates, who among other things was an avid boxer, body builder, and gymnast. Pilates developed it’s reputation of being a women’s workout because dancers were among the first to discover the method’s benefits for posture, flexibility, and injury prevention. And Joseph’s most well know protege, Romana Kryzanowska, was a ballerina. This stigma stuck for a long time, but now the Pilates method has been catching on among top male athletes, including Jake Arrieta (MLB), Lebron James (NBA), Antonio Brown (NFL), and Phillip Danault (NHL).
Is Pilates a good workout for athletes?
Absolutely! In addition to the examples above, Hannah and Ian have worked with many high performing athletes over the course of their careers, including Iron Man competitors, marathon runners, and professional dancers. Their mentor and teacher trainer, Lori Coleman-Brown helped cross train the Women’s Eight Rowing Team to Olympic Gold in 2008! The low impact/high intensity nature of Pilates allows athletes to increase performance while simultaneously decreasing injury risk. The balancing nature of the method means it is easily customizable to suit any sport.
How is Pilates different from Yoga?
As an avid yoga practitioners ourselves, we’re always excited get this question! Let’s start with the basics. Yoga is a holistic wellness practice that was developed thousands of years ago in India. In addition to physical exercise (asana), it includes seven other major disciplines, or limbs, including chanting and meditation.
Pilates is a system of physical exercise developed in the 1920’s by Joseph Pilates. Originally called “Contrology,” the art of control, it is meant to develop and optimize physical and mental fitness in a way that balances the body and maximizes its performance. His system, what we now call Pilates, has a strong focus on core (powerhouse) strength. Personally, we have found Pilates to be a phenomenal compliment to yoga, and many of our clients love to do both.
Can I do Pilates instead of physical therapy?
While Pilates can be a beautiful complement to and continuation of physical therapy rehabilitation, it is not a replacement. However, a complementary Pilates program approved by your doctor and PT can help you heal more quickly and completely. Hannah and Ian’s mentor, Lori Coleman-Brown is a trained physical therapist and taught them how to work collaboratively with the physical therapists of clients going through rehab, broadening your support system and moving you forwards on your path to wellness. Hannah and Ian have helped clients recovering from hip and knee replacements, broken bones, torn ligaments, stress fractures, organ transplant surgery, spinal fusions, and more.
In addition to working with physical therapists, Hannah and Ian have experience creating collaborative wellness programs with massage therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, rolfers, and naturopaths.
Can Pilates help with weight loss?
Yes! While not intrinsically designed as a weight loss regimen, Pilates’ holistic focus on core strength, mind/body connection, posture, and overall vitality has been used by many clients as part of a weight loss plan to great effect. Additionally, due to the fluid transitions of a well executed Pilates workout, most clients get 40-50 minutes of significantly elevated heart rate per session. The gentle and low impact nature of Pilates is also ideal for those just getting into exercise for the first time, as it can be safely customized to any level of ability, and progress with you as you gain strength and confidence.