Preparing for your FIRST Pilates Class
Walking into a Pilates studio for the first time can be daunting - especially when you see a Reformer for the first time. Your mind will instantly start asking what kind fo torture your body will be put through!! We are also located inside Vision Personal Training Southport - so even walking into a gym is not somewhere where people want to go as well!!
BUT, rest assured that Pilates is suitable for all fitness levels - from beginner to advanced. It's also a very client-centered practice, and our teachers do get hands on with you and your body. No matter what time you walk into our studio you will always be greeted by a friendly staff person - cause we’re excited that you’re here!!
What to Bring to your Pilates Class
Our Pilates studio provides you with all the equipment you will need for your workout, so you won’t need to bring much with you to a class. You may want to bring your own mat since some people like to work out on their own. Our Pilates mats are made a little thicker than a standard yoga mat, to provide you with more cushioning and padding.
You will need to bring with you a water bottle - however we do have the Vision water bottles chilling int the fridge for you (and they have a sneaky PT voucher on the water bottle label - BONUS!!) . Though you probably won’t be drinking as much water as during the Vision Group Classes workout, you'll still want to have water available and make sure you're hydrated before you start a pilates class - because you'll be having too much fun to stop.
What to Wear
Our Pilates studio is very casual, we personally like colourful clothes and bright socks, but whatever you feel most comfortable in, means you will be comfortable during your entire session. We’ve drummed up some little tips that we tell our clients to make sure you’re dressed for Pilates success:
Throw the Shoes out: Pilates is usually done barefoot, so no fancy footwear is needed. We do prefer you to wear socks, especially some with grippy bottoms so your feet don't slip on the equipment. We have some in stock for you to purchase - and if you sign up to a program with us, we’ll throw in a pair for free xx
Think Form-Fitting, Not Baggy: We suggest this and to keep modesty in mind: Some Pilates exercises end up with your legs in the air or your torso inverted, and loose clothing could ride up or fall down to be revealing. We promise if this happens we’ll help put your clothes back in place to keep you feeling secure in our classes before anyone sees..
Avoid Tie-backs and Belts, including your “Pilates Pony”: Tie-back tops can be uncomfortable when you're lying on your back. Ties, belts, drawstrings, and tassels can get caught in the springs of Pilates equipment and cause an injury. For the female clients with long hair (or males..) we call it the “Pilates Pony” - so tie that hair up on top of you head, or really loose down low, so when you lie down it’s also comfortable for your head.
Long necklaces, belts, and dangling bracelets can be distracting (as we’ll want to stop and talk to you about your shin accessories) as well as potentially being dangerous if they get caught up in the equipment.Come Fresh-Faced: Makeup can clog your pores but we also want to see your pretty face!!
Mat Work and Equipment
Our Pilates workouts are based either on the Pilates mat, which is done on the floor with a minimum of equipment or on Pilates apparatus (i.e., those aforementioned contraptions that you see when you first walk into the studio).
Mat work is a great place to begin. All of the fundamental movements and Pilates exercise principles are incorporated into the mat exercises. We offer our famous Saturday Morning half hour Mat Pilates class for this reason - Book your class here!! If you can’t make it into the studio we have specifically designed our 4 Week Mat Pilates Ebook for you to do in the comfort of your own home - PURCHASE HERE!!
Etiquette for Pilates Classes - some extras we love when you do…
Do Arrive on Time: We want your body to get the full benefit of the sequence our pilates teachers build for a class. Plus you are paying for it, so get yo moneys worth gurl… (and dudes)
Do Warm Up Before Class: If you have time before class, a warm-up is the best way to utilise that space we have provided for you before the class starts - plus Vision PT Southport have some great cardio equipment for you to use. If you're unsure about what to do, sign up to our emails as we send you some pre class stretches you can also complete.
Do Let Your Instructor Know About Injuries or Changes in Your Body: Our IV Pilates Instructors will check in with you before class and ask how your body is feeling and if there's anything special going on. But don't wait to be asked!! We would love you to politely approach us before class and let us know what's up, whether it's a seemingly minor worry or a more significant issue like surgery, pregnancy, neck pain, or back pain. We can then cater the class to suit your “issue” so you can still get the maximum out of your pilates workout.
Do Ask Questions: If you're in a class that has a workout flow going, for instance, and the instructor is advising of the muscles that you should be feeling - and you CAN’T feel it - say something!!!! Chances are someone in the class is also not feeling the muscles and we may need to tweak something so you can feel those muscles work out - don’t wait until the class is over to tell us you couldn’t “feel” something.
Don't Do Exercises that Hurt Your Body: You are responsible for your body!!! If an instructor asks you to do something that doesn't feel right, request a modification, or fall back to the previous easier exercise in the class. YOU SHOULD NEVER EXPERIENCE PAIN IN A CLASS - SAY SOMETHING IF YOU DO!!!!
That’s it… Hopefully you have found some value in what to expect in your pilates classes and please give us feedback after the class. We love hearing what you loved about the class, and also what you didn’t like - because chances are the exercises you didn't like are the ones that benefit you the most, so chances are we’ll include them in then next class you come to… kidding… but not really….