IT’S International Pilates Day on Saturday, aimed at promoting its benefits, which include building core strength and flexibility, as well as improving posture and reducing back pain.
Shirley Wardle, of studiopilates.com, told me: “It is suited to every age and ability, which is why it is so popular.”
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From weights to mats – three ways to perfect your pilates routine
Today I look at ways to perfect your pilates routine.
WEIGHTS
The silicone bangles, from Yoga Collective, can be used for yoga or walking Credit: Supplied
THESE aren’t weights you hold in your hands, these are bangles you can put around your wrists or ankles.
It means you can perform the movements without losing precision, but add a bit of extra toning.
The silicone bangles, from Yoga Collective can be used for yoga or walking, too.
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They weigh 1kg each, so not really heavy, but will make a difference to your workout.
I used these for walking and they are really comfortable thanks to the smoothness of the silicone.
They are 9cm wide and adjustable.
£34 for a pair, yoga-collective.co.uk
REFORMER MACHINE
These foldable machines are compact, but you still need quite a lot of space to use one Credit: Supplied
IMAGINE having your very own reformer machine. Sounds like something only a Wag would have, doesn’t it?
But now you can hire one for £39 a week – less than a monthly gym membership – from Flexera.
These foldable machines are compact, but you still need quite a lot of space to use one.
If you have got the room, they are amazing. Mine really helped tone my stomach and legs. I loved it.
The subscription includes on-demand classes from the Studio App.
In-person classes can vary from £20-£30 an hour, so it makes for a good saving.
This is great for me as I’m already a qualified Pilates teacher.
If you’re a novice, I suggest a few in-person classes first.
Hire at joinflexera.com
EXERCISE MAT
I like this budget-friendly, extra padded one from Decathlon Credit: Supplied
WHILE it may look similar to a yoga mat, a Pilates one is very different.
With yoga, the mat needs to give you plenty of grip, but as the main focus of Pilates is body weight-resisted movement, you need plenty of cushion for the spine, knees and wrists.
So a Pilates mat should be at least 6mm in thickness. Any thinner and you may not have enough support.
I like this budget-friendly, extra padded one from Decathlon.
The DOMYOS Comfortable Pilates Mat is 15mm thick, 170cm long and 58cm wide, so plenty of room for sprawling.
My knees can cause me issues on a mat that’s too thin, but this was great.
It’s quite heavy, though, so not one for carrying around.
£29.99 at decathlon.co.uk
