Pilates is by far one of the most popular exercise methods practiced in today’s society. This is partly because it is so easily altered to suit a myriad of different people. Pilates can be tailored to every skill level, most body types, it can even work with many disabilities. It builds strength and promotes flexibility. The strengthening program is ideal for rehabilitating many types of injuries and the flexible portion is great for preventing many injuries.
There are many books and videos to help people practice at home, but many people prefer a class setting. There are many reasons for this some which may include a more structured learning environment and a built-in support group. Because of this, people tend to seek out a class anytime they begin practicing pilates, go to a new area, travel, or move.
In some locations, it is easy to find a pilates class while others prove to be incredibly difficult. The primary reason for this is that bigger areas tend to have more classes available while smaller areas may only have one, possibly even none. So here, you will find a guide on how to find the right pilates class for you.
Determine Level of Difficulty
The first thing you need to do is determine what level of class you need. Levels are not always considered when you are first choosing a class, but it is important to do so. Some classes are designed in such a way as to accommodate students of all levels; however, there are many classes that only specializes in specific levels. If you are a beginner, you do not want to end up in a class meant for advanced students. Likewise, if you are at an advanced level, you do not want to be in a class designed for beginners. Anyone who falls into a category that is in between a beginner and advanced will need to be especially careful about the class that they choose. Some instructors offer classes for levels at different times of the day or different days of the week.
If you have chosen a specific instructor, you will need to be sure that you sign up for the appropriate level class. If you do not know what level you need, here are a few factors to consider. First, determine how long you have been practicing Pilates. If the answer is anything less than a year, you should stick to a beginners class unless your instructor recommends moving up. Between one and two years is most likely a median level and two years or more is most likely advanced. Also, Ask yourself, how much difficulty you have with the basic poses and movements that you have been practicing. If you have a difficult time achieving several poses or movement, it is best to at least start out with beginner and go from there. If you have been seamlessly performing all of the movements, it is probably time to move up a level.
A Clean Bill of Health
If you have never practiced Pilates before and are looking for your first class, there is one thing you must do first. Talk to your physician. It is always vital to speak to your doctor before beginning any type of exercise method. Your doctor will help you understand your body and help you determine what type of exercises are right for you. Some people need low impact while others need only high impact. There are people who need to focus on cardio while others need to focus on stretching and strengthening. Some people will have specific limitations that a doctor will need to outline specific types of exercise for. If you have had physical therapy on any part of your body, consult your physical therapist. They will have an excellent insight into what exercise methods may be best for you.
After you have consulted your doctor and determined your level, you will need to set a budget. Most people in today’s economically challenged society are on a very strict budget. This includes everything from food, to bills, to extras such as classes and entertainment. This means that some classes and instructors will automatically be eliminated from the possibilities due to high fees. You will want to find the best class for the best price. This will inevitably take a bit of time and effort to find what you are looking for, but it will be well worth it in the end. Before beginning your search, you will need to determine exactly what your budget is. It is best to set a conservative budget limit so that you will have a bit of leeway if you are not able to find a class on that price range. However, if you are able to find a class that is in the range of the conservative limit, you will have money left for something else.
Find a Class
Once you have set your budget, you are ready to begin to find pilates services in your area. There are several ways to go about this. You can, of course, look for local flyers and ads. You can look for listings in local newspapers and in local phone books. Consider though, that these methods are not always entirely reliable. Classes will not constantly have flyers out, nor will they always have an ad in the paper. The phone book should have the most listing, but may not be entirely up to date.
The best method to use in this technologically advanced world is the internet. A simple search that includes the words “pilates class” and a reference to the desired location is all that is needed. If you are looking for a specific level, be sure to add that to your search. If you do not wish to use the name of the city or town you are looking in, you can instead use “near me”. The word “local” will also garner favorable results.
After you have a list of local classes, you will need to decide which one best suits your needs. To do this you will need to peruse any information you can find and compare each one to your needs. This includes price per class and level available. Class times will also play a big part in your decision because you will have to find a class that fits your schedule. Location is also important to many people. Although, it is important to keep in mind that if you live in a very small or very rural area, you may have to travel to a neighboring town to find a class.
Tags: exercise, Flexibility, pilates, stretching, workout
