Restarting Your Pilates Practice: It Will Be Easier Than You Think
So, you’ve taken a pause from Pilates.
Maybe life threw a curveball your way that set you off track. Maybe you’ve relocated and haven’t yet found a Pilates studio you love. Maybe you don’t quite know how it happened, but suddenly you’re out of breath climbing the stairs and realize it’s been almost a year since you’ve practiced Pilates.
This is completely normal. Every fitness journey has ebbs and flows, speed-bumps and breakthroughs.
You might feel worried about coming back to class. Will you be able to keep up? Will it be too hard? Will you embarrass yourself? These are natural concerns, but you should toss them all aside.
As long as you keep these ideas in mind, restarting your Pilates practice will be much easier than you think:
Pilates is a gentle return to exercise.
Pilates is designed to minimize strain on your joints. The risk of injury, even after an extensive break, is tiny. You have the ability to go at your own pace. Exercises can be modified to fit your current fitness level.
So, if you’re concerned that returning to Pilates is going to be too difficult, fear not. It will push you to grow, but it will not break you. And after only a class or two, you’ll realize that you’re fully capable of reintegrating yourself into the Pilates routine.
Focus on the journey, not the destination.
When returning to Pilates after a break, it's key to remember that the journey is just as valuable as the destination. Instead of fixating on how quickly you can reach your previous fitness level, embrace the process of rediscovery. Celebrate the small wins along the way, and you'll find joy in each step of your renewed Pilates practice!
The beauty of Pilates is that it can be tailored to suit individual needs and fitness levels. Our skilled instructors will be able to modify exercises to match your current capabilities while gently pushing you to improve. This progressive approach helps you build strength, flexibility, and coordination gradually, without feeling overwhelmed.
The mind-body connection endures.
Even if it has been some time since your last Pilates session, the mind-body connection cultivated during your previous practice is still within you. Classical Pilates encourages an awareness of your body's alignment, posture, and movement patterns, and these learnings stay with you even during your time away.
You'll be surprised at how quickly you can tap back into that familiar feeling of unity between body and mind, making your return much smoother than you’d expect!
We’re a welcoming community here at Whole Body Method.
If your worries about returning are more social than physical, you can breathe easy. Our community is inclusive and supportive. Our instructors are trained help you ease back into your practice and to make sure you have a beneficial experience no matter the point in your Pilates journey.
This community can provide you with encouragement, tips, and inspiration as you restart your journey. It is an accomplishment to return to fitness after a break, and everyone here recognizes that.
So, with those ideas in mind, it’s time to embrace the fresh start!
A pause from Pilates is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, it might just help you appreciate the practice even more. You’ve experienced life without it, so upon your return, you can better appreciate and recognize the way Pilates enhances your everyday wellbeing.
We’d love to have you back. It’ll be easier than you think!