How Many Classes?! Why You Should Practice Pilates More Often

We all know by now that Pilates is a wonderful form of exercise, for many reasons: it’s accessible to all ages and abilities, with high impact, low intensity movement to strengthen, tone and balance your entire body. But how often should you be practising? What are the benefits to multiple classes a week? And is more always more?

It’s no surprise that Pilates is gaining in popularity, with PureGym naming it as one of the top 20 fitness trends of 2024, but you may be wondering if your weekly class is enough to see the real benefits Pilates can offer. While it is important to remember that no one size fits all, experts generally agree that the benefits of two or more classes are well worth the investment. One thing I would recommend is to try an online class between your in person classes – you can find my online classes here.

 Joseph Pilates famously said “In ten sessions you will feel the difference, in 20 you will see the difference, and in 30 you’ll have a whole new body.” But the frequency of your training could affect how soon you see results. From a physical perspective, in order to strengthen your muscles and increase your flexibility, you should be training three times weekly, whether this is just Pilates, or a combination of Pilates, Yoga, resistance training etc – whatever you decide, it’s important that this fits round your schedule, so that you can maintain your routine over time. In addition, I recommend spacing out your workouts, so that your body isn’t sedentary for a whole week in between classes (perhaps, say, practicing on a Tuesday and Thursday in person with me, then doing a shorter online class on a Sunday!)

As Pilates is relatively low intensity, you can in theory practice every day if you wish, but you must be careful not to overtrain tired muscles. Consider mixing up your workouts, or swapping one session for a brisk walk, or making some days less intense than others. The great thing about Pilates is that it is incredibly adaptable, meaning that you can tailor your week to suit your body – as always, start small, and build up.

The conclusion: practicing Pilates at any frequency will benefit you, but the more consistent you are, and the more frequently you practice, the greater the benefits for your body, mind and soul.

Love and kindness,

Amelia x