Let Pilates Move You Blog

The best Pilates teacher training program depends on the needs of the practitioner. The easiest way to find the best fit for you is to understand your options and how they align with your goals, decide a cost you are comfortable with, and ask the right questions to make sure a program is reputable. 

What are the different types of Pilates certification?

There are numerous types of Pilates teacher training courses. Typically, Pilates certifications will come in mat instructor training, reformer instructor training, mat, reformer instructor training, or comprehensive instructor training. 

The best Pilates teacher training for you depends on your needs. Below are our top three choices for Pilates teacher certifications that we trust and love. We’re going to break it down for you between full comprehensive certification and modular.

1. Full Comprehensive Certification
   1. Romana’s Pilates
   2. United States Pilates Association
2. Modular Certification
   1. Peak Pilates
   2. Polestar Pilates

The Pilates teacher certification cost can range anywhere from $100 for a mat certification to over $3,000 for a comprehensive Pilates certification. The price truly depends on where you get your certificate and what type of certification you get.

How to pick a Pilates teacher training program

There are countless options out there for Pilates teacher training programs. It is essential to do your research to ensure the one you are taking is reputable. 

As you research, consider the following questions before making your decision. 

• Do they require a combo of teaching, classroom, and observation hours? (if not, think twice about them) 
• What is the location, date, and time of the training?
• Is your apprenticeship with the program or a studio of your choosing?
• What are the costs and the cancellation policy? 

Ultimately, you will need to use these questions to determine which program fits your needs the best.

How long does it take to complete Pilates teacher training?

The time it takes to complete a Pilates teacher certificate depends on the program you choose. On average, you will need to invest at least 450 hours over a period of six to twelve months into obtaining your certificate. 

Where do all these hours come from? Class time, observation, practice, and apprentice teaching hours accumulate quickly. You then will have to pass a written and physical teaching assessment. 

The instructors at the MatWorkz Pilates Studio have an extensive understanding of the certification process. 

All of our instructors participate in continuing education and have earned multiple certifications to ensure they have comprehensive Pilates training to meet differing individuals’ needs. 

If you have questions about Pilates teacher training or are new to the world of Pilates, contact us. 

We’d love to guide you on your journey. 

There are countless Pilates exercises for beginners that practitioners can choose from as they begin their journey. 

We’ve put together this no-frill list of why you should start and what you can start with to give you some guidance through the beginning of your journey.

3 reasons why Pilates is the perfect choice for beginners

Pilates for beginners may sound like a daunting venture at first. However, trust us when we say this practice is accessible for anyone. 

There are endless physical and mental benefits for every person to gain by taking the leap and trying this new challenge. 

1. Pilates is adaptable: Instructors can modify the exercises in Pilates to meet practitioners where they are at regardless of their age, fitness, or ability levels. 
2. Consistency is key: Individuals don’t have to be a star athlete or a professional dancer to benefit from Pilates. Instead, they must simply practice Pilates consistently to improve their strength, flexibility, posture, balance, and mind-body connection. 
3. You have options: There are many different approaches to Pilates. This practice isn’t one fits all. Beginners can experiment with the different styles to find one that meets their needs the best. 

What are the best beginner Pilates exercises for first-time practitioners?

Beginner Pilates exercises help to engrain Pilates’ foundational elements, like controlling movement through breath, into practitioners’ minds. These movements are essential to receiving the full physical and mental benefit of the practice. Below are some of our favorites. 

1. The pelvic curl: This exercise is a fantastic warm-up for the spine and abdominal muscles. It teaches beginners to use their breath to flow through slow, controlled movements articulating the spine. We recommend using this movement as a warm-up before doing any further Pilates exercises for abs.
2. The cat-cow: The cat-cow is a fabulous Pilates exercise for beginners because it is a simple tool to reduce lower back pain. Moreover, it is an easy way for practitioners to find a neutral spine. 
3. Arm reach and pull: Improving shoulder stability for spinal health is critical. This exercise helps beginners develop more awareness around their scapulae. As a result, it teaches them to engage in movements that protect and support their upper body. 

How MatWorkz Pilates in Orlando, Florida, supports Pilates for beginners

The MatWorkz Pilates studio is a wonderful place for individuals to try Pilates exercises for beginners. We have private and group class options. 

Our instructors are passionate about introducing the power of movement to our practitioners’ lives. We believe in transforming the mind, body, and spirit through Joesph Pilates’ elegant and straightforward exercise approach. 

Visit us or call us at 407-628-4888 to learn more about how we can help you. 

Doing Pilates at home with online Pilates classes has reached an all-time high in popularity thanks to the pandemic. It is essential for Pilates students, especially beginners, to do Pilates classes with an instructor at an in-person course. Instructors provide feedback and ensure students engage the right muscle groups with the correct form to get the most out of their Pilates practice. However, at-home Pilates is a great, more economical, and COVID-19 safe practice combined with regular in-person classes. Before students begin online Pilates, there are several pieces of equipment they can get to set themselves up for success. 

Why you need Pilates equipment at home for online pilates classes 

Step one to doing Pilates at home with online pilates classes is getting a Pilates mat. Pilates mats are thicker than typical yoga mats. This quality is essential for floor work because it gives added comfort and support for exercises like front support. The main issue with doing Pilates at home is the potential to sacrifice form for convenience without supervision from an instructor. Using Pilates equipment helps students focus on performing exercises correctly as they move through sequences. Moreover, it makes the at-home environment more conducive to movements students need to perform during a Pilates practice. That is why it is crucial to use basic Pilates equipment, like the Pilates mat, at home. 

Which equipment works well for Pilates classes online?

A Pilates mat is the essential first piece of equipment that all online Pilates students need. However, many other pieces of at-home equipment can make an engaging at-home practice easier to achieve and more effective. 

1. An exercise ball:  A standard size exercise ball is useful for doing movements that involve difficult core work. 
2. A mini stability ball: This Pilates equipment is fabulous for doing work to improve posture and alignment. In addition, it makes it easier to do exercises that isolate the glutes and thighs, arms, and abs. 
3. Pilates Magic Circle: These rings are versatile and excellent for improving balance and adding resistance. 
4. Resistance bands: This at-home equipment gives the feeling of the springs used in Pilates. It’s lightweight and compact while delivering a massive punch for potential exercises students performing with them. They are excellent for adding resistance.

Where can you take online Pilates classes at home in Orlando, Florida?

The importance of in-class instructor supervision for beginner practitioners is essential to make sure new students’ use of pilates equipment, focus, and muscular movements are precise through the exercise sequence to achieve the desired results. MatWorkz Pilates Studio in Orlando, Florida, works with its students on a student by student basis with it’s online Pilates classes. As our practitioners progress in their practice, our dedicated instructors are taking their passion for the training to you via video, depending on your experience and needs. We want our students to have the flexibility to do what feels right for them during these times. As a result, we offer online Pilates in conjunction with our in-person classes that follow all CDC coronavirus protocols. Join us in centering our minds, bodies, and spirits through these hectic times.

Pilates weight loss exercises are simply regular Pilates exercise sequences performed with gusto. Habitual Pilates class attendance, full engagement and exertion within each movement, and Pilates’ incorporation into other healthy lifestyle practices combine to help practitioners reach their weight loss journey’s long-term goals. 

How do Pilates exercises help with weight loss in shaping your body?

Pilates exercises place a particular focus on strengthening and toning muscles in the body’s trunk that supports spine health. Those muscles include the multifidus, diaphragm, transverse abdominis, and pelvic floor. By strengthening these muscles around one’s midsection, you can shape your body to make it look leaner.

Are 10 minutes of Pilates exercises a day enough?

The sequences in Pilates are slow-moving and involve lots of stretching, meaning it is possible to engage in the practice without a warm-up or cool down. Also, Pilates exercises target distinct muscle groups. The movements are particular and intentional, allowing practitioners to significantly impact a specific area of their body with a small amount of time. By practicing Pilates for ten minutes, a day individuals can create a stable exercise routine that they can stick to, which can help with weight loss. Consistency and proper form are the two most influential factors in someone’s ability to reap Pilates’ benefits including enhanced mental and physical health, increased ability to manage stress, heightened body awareness, injury prevention and recovery, and improved strength, flexibility, and coordination.

Does Pilates help lose fat or just strengthen?

Pilates helps to build muscles, and muscle increases one’s basal metabolic rate. An increase in basal metabolic rate means one will burn a larger number of calories in a resting state. In other words, practicing Pilates can boost your metabolism. Moreover, doing Pilates exercises can help practitioners get motivated and change their daily habits to lead a more active lifestyle. As a result, they will see an increase in the number of calories they burn in a day from their current baseline. The more of a caloric deficit one can create for themselves, the more fat they will burn. It is critical to remember that Pilates is not a magical weight-loss elixir. Pilates is the lettuce that holds the salad together. Alternative exercises like weight lifting and cardio are the toppings, and healthy eating is the dressing. Individuals need to have all of these components to make a delicious weight loss salad with Pilates. Remove any of them, and practitioners will not achieve the desired weight loss effect they are looking for from Pilates.

Can I tighten my whole body and lose weight by only doing Pilates exercises?

Pilates is a total body workout with exercises that focus on strengthening muscles throughout the entire body. Pilates is a fantastic outlet for building muscle, which gives more firmness to the muscle composition in one’s body, “tightening” it. Depending on the amount of fat one has on their body, it is essential to note that it may make it more difficult to see any muscle definition changes. That does not mean their body is not getting stronger, more flexible, and increasingly coordinated. It is essential to focus on incorporating Pilates as a practice to improve one’s overall health, not just physical appearance.

The Pilates weight loss exercise takeaway

Pilates is a long term solution for leading a healthy life. Pilates exercises strengthen and improve mobility while helping individuals tune in to and serve the needs of their minds, bodies, and spirits. Pilates, like weight-loss, requires commitment, persistence, passion, and patience. Incorporating Pilates as one pillar of one’s weight-loss journey will give individuals the physical foundation, mental motivation, and overall confidence to stick with their new, healthy lifestyle for the long haul. 

Why don’t more men do Pilates? Even though a man, Joseph Pilates, invented Pilates, there are prevalent negative stereotypes gendering this movement method fueled by a total misunderstanding of the physical benefits it has to offer regardless of how one identifies. If someone is a human interested in improving their physical and mental health Pilates is the solution to stronger muscles, improved flexibility, injury prevention and rehabilitation, and an increased mind-body connection.

More men do Pilates to get six-pack abs

Are you looking to get shredded? Look no further. Pilates exercises focus on preventing injuries while training the major core muscles. Regular grueling sessions of sequences relentlessly working the rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis, and internal and external obliques will have practitioners saying Brad and Angelina move over; there are new heartthrobs in town. 

More men do Pilates to build muscle mass

This answer may shock naysayers picturing delicate middle-aged women performing exercises with light weights in stretchy pants, but yes, more men do Pilates to build muscle mass using a reformer machine. Why? The resistance training in Reformer Pilates targets muscular imbalances across the body and produces a sturdy foundation. Pilates exercises correct posture and alignment and strengthens the core and back muscles responsible for spinal health. Anyone correctly lifting weights knows that proper form when lifting heavy is crucial to increasing strength without injury. For someone looking to build muscle mass, combining a routine of reformer Pilates and classic weight training will give their body the tools to get big and lift heavier safely. 

Pilates can help men prevent muscle injuries and improve their performance in other sports.

Pilates doesn’t need to be someone’s only movement method to impact their life significantly. Men who incorporate Pilates regularly into a workout routine prevent injury and improve endurance. It’s a key to success that tons of professional athletes have tapped in to. That is because Pilates exercises improve flexibility, speed up the rehabilitation process of current injuries, and teach movement patterns that address muscular imbalances and engage the correct muscles to prevent future injuries. 

Reformer Pilates is the perfect exercise for building muscle, rehabilitating injuries, and improving posture, flexibility, and muscular imbalances across the body. Reformer Pilates is done on a unique piece of equipment called a reformer. Joseph Pilates invented the reformer to help practitioners achieve a more targeted workout on different muscle groups. The reformer consists of a frame with a carriage that rolls back and forth with wheels and attaches to the reformer by springs on one end. The reformer mainly works with body weight, but the springs allow you to increase resistance intensity when you need to. The carriage has shoulder blocks to stop you from shooting off the top of the reformer while exercising. 

What are the benefits of using a Reformer machine?

The benefits of using a Reformer machine include improvements to muscular imbalances, posture, coordination, flexibility, and strength throughout the body but most notably in the areas that support spinal health and stability like the back, core, thighs, and glutes. The springs and rolling carriage on the reformer allow practitioners to go through movement sequences that uniquely challenge the stability of the core muscles building strength that improves one’s overall well-being. As the cherry on top, a reformer is an extremely versatile tool for Pilates exercises. It offers every variation you can think of; standing, lying down, sitting, on your knees, on your sides, pushing with your feet, pulling with your arms, the list goes on and on. This versatility means that instructors can customize each exercise of this full-body workout to meet your physical needs.

Can beginners do Reformer Pilates?

Absolutely, Reformer Pilates is an achievable endeavor for all fitness and ability levels. One of the best Pilates reformers’ features for beginners is that exercises can be adjusted to meet you where you are in your fitness journey and work around injuries. Be sure to inform your Pilates instructor of your needs so that they can make the appropriate adjustments for you. It is best to utilize private lessons for your first several Pilates Reformer classes. Individual attention from an instructor will help you learn the basics of Pilates movements so that you are practicing proper form and engaging the appropriate muscle groups as you progress through the exercises. 

Is doing Pilates exercises on a Reformer machine a good workout?

Yes, be prepared to be sore in areas you didn’t know you had muscles. This type of Pilates is a full-body workout, meaning you may be working out many muscles you don’t utilize very frequently. Muscles that stabilize your spine in your core and back will get the workout of a lifetime. The Pilates exercises on a Reformer machine center around repeatedly activating and engaging this area. Washboard abs, here we come!

Can you lose weight doing Pilates on a Reformer?

Regularly practicing Reformer Pilates is beneficial for your physical and mental health and can help you maintain a healthy weight for your body. If this type of Pilates is a physical activity you enjoy, sticking with this practice will make you more likely to stay with a fitness routine. Consistency in a fitness routine is essential to living a healthy lifestyle. It’s crucial to keep in mind if your goal with practicing Pilates is to lose weight, you may need to focus on combining Pilates with several other health practices. An exercise class on a Reformer does not burn as many calories as typical cardio exercises like running or cycling. Eat healthily and sprinkle in other forms of exercise in addition to your Pilates classes throughout the week. Try weight lifting, swimming, running, walking, cycling, or kickboxing. Find another movement method you love and create a schedule you can stick to engaging in both practices. 

Schedule a Pilates Class now at Matworkz Pilates!