Like any other skill, pilates is best learned under live instruction from a qualified teacher. According to group fitness instructor Kerry Collette, this type of instruction allows instant, personal feedback that helps you improve at an increased rate. However, not everybody lives in an area with pilates instruction, has a schedule that accommodates attending class and has the money to pay tuition. People with one or more of these problems can get started with simple lessons from free online information.
Step 1
Set up your workout area. You'll need a pilates ball, also called a yoga ball or exercise ball, and 100 to 200 square feet of clear space. Collette recommends adding a layer of pad to the space for comfort, although she says carpet or even hardwood will be fine.
Step 2
Locate pilates training online. Collete says you can find quality basics on user-generated sites such as Veoh and YouTube. You can also look at pilates studio home pages, many of which include a "tip of the day" or other training resource.
Step 3
Consult forums on general fitness, group exercise and pilates. The forums will include threads that address specific and general questions about your pilates instruction. Seriously consider registering with one or more forum, so you can get advice on specific questions.
Step 4
Select a basic move from the videos available to you, preferably a move with some recent support on the forums you've researched. According to Pilates-Back-Joint-Exercise.com, some good starting points include "Hundreds," "Single Leg Stretch" and "Spine Stretch Forward."
Step 5
View the video and practice. During and immediately after each session, take notes in your journal to help you remember and improve.
Step 6
Move on to a new move once you're confident with the one you're working. After you've developed three to five moves to this level, incorporate them into a routine that becomes part of your practice.
Step 7
Add more challenging moves as your basic moves begin to feel easy or routine. Colette recommends "Criss-Cross," "Heels to Glutes" and "Hip Lifts" as the second level of your training.
Things You'll Need
- Pilates ball
- Workout space
- Internet access
- Notebook
References
- Kerry Collette; Group Fitness Instructor; Hillsboro, OR
- Pilates-Back-Joint-Exercise.com: Basic Pilates Exercises
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