Tips for Beginning Pilates

Growth Mindset Tips for Beginning Pilates, part 1

Deciding to try a Pilates class may feel a little daunting, right? Let’s talk about that.

Whether we are new to Pilates or new to a class, what we think about “beginners” or being a beginner affects our attitude and enthusiasm when we start. 

First, though: what do you think about the benefits of exercise?

Are the benefits of exercise only physical? Mental? Emotional?

This may be an unusual opinion, but I think the first benefit of exercise is deciding to do it – and following through.

Why? Because when we 1) make a decision ahead of time and 2) act on it, we create more self-trust. Whether we decide to go for a walk or take a a Pilates class, exercise benefits our mind, body and emotional well-being when we schedule it and follow through. 

So if one of the first benefits of exercise is mental, what are you thinking about WHY you want to do Pilates? That is, what thought motivates you? For me, I wanted to be free of my back pain. If my physical therapist had said “learn karate,” I would have done karate. I was motivated to relieve my back pain and get stronger, AND, I believed that “doing Pilates” would help me. Going to class was a means to an end. 

Notice whether your motivation feels positive. For example, instead of thinking "I'm doing Pilates because I have a weak core," do you feel better thinking "I want to do Pilates to get a stronger core"?

When we focus on what we're doing, not how we're doing, we do more!

Our beliefs about exercise create our mindset and relationship with it. Below are some of my “helpful beliefs” for beginning Pilates. These are useful when we’re feeling out-of-shape and starting a new exercise routine, and also when we’re strong, fit, active and willing to explore a new activity.

1. Doing Pilates is a skill; it is not a sport or an art. There’s no score to earn or time to beat. You can’t be “good” or “bad” at it. It doesn’t have to “look pretty” or create a certain shape. (Full disclosure: I often exclaim “LOVELY!” while I’m watching a class and teaching. It’s not about the “look” of an exercise – it’s observing how you embody, breathe, and control the movement.) Pilates is simply an exercise method. The more we learn, the more we do. Our bodies change; our skills improve. 

2. When you wonder whether you’re “doing it right,” try to answer “yes, and…”  For example, in class, I might teach you a movement and say “inhale, nod your chin, move your eyes to your thighs and lift…” and you may feel the urge to look around and see if you’re “doing it right.” (You may be thinking “is this it? Like this?”) I encourage students to notice this question and answer “yes, and I’m learning to coordinate my breath with my movement” or “yes, and I’m curious about how this feels in my muscles.” Reassuring ourselves also promotes mind/body connection and self-trust.

3. Learning Pilates is an investment in a growth mindset. We progress in Pilates when we believe that we can 1) learn new things and 2) become more skilled over time. The earliest, noticeable benefits of doing Pilates are more AWARENESS of your movement habits and more CONTROL over how you move – whether you’re emptying the dishwasher, driving your car, running, playing pickleball,  or typing on your laptop. 

4. Focus on what you’re doing, not “how well” you’re doing it. When our muscles burn or shake, we might judge ourselves for “being out of shape" or "have a weak core." (Promise: if you are standing upright, your core is working.) When we feel unsure if we’re “doing it right,” we might look around and decide everyone else is doing it better. If you notice this, give yourself permission to drop the judgment of them and you.

No score, no time, no grades, no competition.

These are some of the ways I encourage new students to cultivate curiosity for what's possible with Pilates. Trying something new can feel intimidating, and we have everything we need to change that.

What are your experiences with beginning something new?

What advice do you have for others who are "doing Pilates" for the first time?

Curious about mat Pilates? Buy your first class pass and sign up here, or text "CLASS" to 512-361-4346.