I often get the question, “How many times a week should I do Pilates?”. It’s tough for me to answer because you really can’t do too much. However, depending on your schedule, phase of life, and other obligations, seven days a week might be six too many classes. Therefore, my short answer is as little or as much as you want. There isn’t a magic number that helps you see results, but the consistency and quality at which you practice dictate your pathway to success. Our goal is to transform your body and enhance your quality of life, so, how do we do this? To keep things from sounding too vague, I thought it might be helpful to give you real-life examples. I’ve categorized my clients into the three most popular demographics I see regularly. Finding the demographic you most relate to, will help you decide the perfect amount of Pilates for YOU!
The Mom (Pilates 1x a Week)
The majority of my clients are women which means a lot of them are moms. My “mom” demographic specifically pertains to women with young children. These are the women who are running around keeping up with their children and deadlines for their jobs. With that, young kids and moms require a lot of flexibility. Things happen, kids get sick, and mom is tired. For these clients, it’s always best to have one planned Pilates session a week. I recently told a client to book once a week, and if she has the opportunity to book again, that’s a bonus day! My mission is to help you create a consistent Pilates routine. It’s ALWAYS better to pick consistency over sporadic training. Commit to a time and day, and you’ll notice a change in your body just by making time for yourself!
The Athlete (Pilates 2x a week)
Athletes use Pilates as a supplemental form of exercise. This means Pilates isn’t their main form of exercise, but is used to strengthen and mobilize small intrinsic muscles. Therefore, my goal for athletes is to not overexert themselves but to use Pilates complimentary to their body’s needs. A lot of what we can accomplish in the studio can be done twice a week. For example, if an athlete trains Monday through Friday, I would train movement mechanics for peak performance one day a week, and for the other day do rehabilitative work to counter stress in their body. As an athlete your body goes through enough, I want Pilates to give you longevity in your sport while also making you a force to be reckoned with!
The Menopausal Woman (Pilates 2-3x a Week)
Women in their 50s and beyond see Pilates as a place to start a new physical fitness chapter now that the kids are out of the house and they can focus on themselves again. Most women clients of mine do anywhere from two to three sessions a week. Women in this client demographic are looking for complete body makeovers. With menopause, they’ve experienced drops in fat-burning hormones (estrogen and progesterone) that helped them maintain weight. If you’re a menopausal woman, needing a change, a consistent and abundant Pilates regimen will help you see the change you’re ready for. For more information on the benefits of Pilates for menopause check out my blog, “Pilates for Menopause: ‘Life Doesn’t Stop At 50′”.
As you can see, Pilates is not a one-size-fits-all. That’s why at Equipoise Pilates you and I customize a practice that fits your schedule and leaves you feeling challenged yet successful. I hope you read between the lines and see it’s not how many sessions you take, but the consistency and effort you put into your practice.
Xoxo, Annie