I remember when I was new to Pilates; it was intimidating.
I had been taking a free Pilates mat class at my gym for a few months for my chronic low back and hip pain. I was feeling an improvement in my symptoms so I wanted to develop a deeper practice and explore the option of becoming a certified teacher. So, I asked my mat teacher at the time if she had any recommendations for a good Pilates studio in San Francisco and she happily gave me a few options.
I did a little research on the different studios when I got home and picked one that a) was close to home, b) taught Classical Pilates, c) offered a teacher training program, and d) had teacher bios that jived with my personal story. The studio I picked also had online scheduling and a professional-looking website.
I’ll never forget walking into the studio for the first time. It felt like walking into an art show with strong, beautiful, focused women doing Pilates on display. There was an intensity in the air that felt invigorating. I wondered how long it might take me to become one of them and if it was even possible. They all looked so healthy and mobile and at the time I felt old, broken, and a little scared to move even though I was only in my late 20s. I was intimidated, but excited.
My anxiety dissipated as soon as my teacher came to greet me. She was warm and welcoming and throughout our private session, she was kind and showed me and my story compassion. She took it seriously that I was a beginner Pilates student with a history of chronic pain and sports injuries. I felt safe and supported throughout my entire lesson. My first session helped me see what my body was capable of, taking my attention away from my movement limitations.
I did continue my Pilates journey at this one studio, eventually completing the Advanced Teacher Training and starting my teaching career to help others in pain like I was. I found myself on the other side of being a Pilates beginner. I became a strong, beautiful, focused woman with health and mobility doing Pilates, watching brand new students enter the studio.
I share this story because I hear frequently that Pilates studios and teachers can be intimidating. I hear all the time:
- “Don’t you have to already be fit to do Pilates?”
- “Isn’t Pilates just for dancers?”
- “I tried Pilates once but felt like I couldn’t keep up in the class.”
I promise the Pilates world wants you in it. Here are a few tips for getting started with Pilates for Beginners.
Ask around:
Like I mentioned, I was taking a free Pilates mat class in the beginning of my Pilates journey. If your gym offers a Pilates mat class but doesn’t have its own Pilates studio, see if you can connect with one of the teachers to pick their brain. Pilates teachers are usually very passionate about the work and are eager to help people figure out where and how to start.
Pilates in Common is a Pilates studio in the Mission district of San Francisco. If our location doesn’t work for you, feel free to email us asking for recommendations in your area! Sharing is caring in our book!
Do your research:
Researching businesses is easier than ever in 2023. Google reviews, Yelp, Nextdoor – there’s someone talking about something you’re researching. When I did my research, I looked at google reviews, but like I mentioned, I also looked at all of the different studio websites. Here’s the criteria I looked for and why it was important to me.
- Close to home: when trying to commit to a new habit or practice, I want as few barriers to entry as possible. A studio that is closer to home is easier to get to and gives me one less reason not to get up off of the couch to go.
- Classical Pilates: this one is tricky and involves a bit of legal drama. Long-story short: Pilates is named after its creator, Joseph Pilates. After Joseph passed away, there were legal battles to trademark his name and corresponding work. Unfortunately, this resulted in the term “Pilates” not getting trademarked and therefore is just a name that you can essentially apply to anything, meaning, if I wanted to call mowing the lawn “Pilates,” I could. Finding a studio that offers Classical Pilates helps to ensure that you’ll be learning the original method as Joseph Pilates intended it to be taught. There’s a system; there’s an order; there’s a way of teaching.
- Pilates Teacher Training Program: this may not apply to you if you’re not looking to become a teacher, however, studios with training programs have some benefits. For starters, these studios usually have a good variety of classes that use different equipment at different levels. This is because teachers in training start from the beginning and work their way up. These studios may also offer “Apprentice Teacher” sessions, meaning a teacher in training teaches students, usually at a discounted rate.
- Teacher Bios: building a Pilates practice means working one-on-one and taking group classes with teachers and taking group classes. Personality and teaching style vary from teacher to teacher and can make or break your introduction to Pilates. When reading teacher bios, I wanted to work with a teacher that could relate to the challenges associated with chronic pain because it helped me feel comfortable and like I could trust this person with my body. Again, this is specific to my story, but I also recommend Pilates beginners read through studio teacher bios to see if there’s one or a couple that resonate with them. For example, perhaps you’re an open-water swimmer who wants to build core strength to support your swimming. You may want to look for a teacher who also has a swimming background or has experience working with athletes.
- Beginner-specific offerings: if you’ve never done Pilates before, you’ll want to make sure the studio you're researching has some sort of programming for beginners, whether this be a beginner class or series or recordings. You can usually find this on the studio’s website/ schedule. However, with that being said, I always recommend that beginners start with a private session. This way your intro to Pilates is really yours and is specific to your body.
Know that Pilates meets you where you’re at:
No, you do not need to be flexible, fit, young, a dancer, an athlete, or anything extraordinary to start a Pilates practice. You just have to start. My dad started Pilates at 81 years old. I started Pilates in my late 20s with bulging discs and labral tears in my hips. Pilates is a system that teaches you how to understand your own, unique body and how you can move in healthy, positive ways.
Try out different studios:
If you go to one studio and the vibe is wrong or you don't connect well with your teacher, then try another teacher or try another studio. Every studio is different and remember, teacher personality and teaching style make a big difference. You have to find what’s feel right for you.
Have questions on how to get started? Email us! We love hearing from beginners!
By: Destinie Slavich
First image by: Setyaki Irham
