How often should you do Pilates?
When it comes to how often one should exercise, the answer is often subjective.
Generally, the recommendation is thirty minutes of exercise daily for five days a week. But when it comes to Pilates specifically, what’s the right amount to practice?
How often should you do Pilates?
The creator of Pilates himself, Joseph Pilates, recommended that those interested in Pilates practice it at least three times per week. However, if you’re getting exercise in other ways, it may be worth it to trim the amount of time spent in Pilates classes down to one class weekly.
Pilates is often used as a type of physical therapy. The impact it can have on the body is huge; regular practice can improve balance, flexibility, and mobility. Just that one class per week can result in enhanced recovery from injuries and your body relearning how to move correctly, preventing further injuries. Therefore, it might be wise to consider participating in Pilates regularly, even if you get the majority of your exercise from morning runs or evening strength-training sessions.
If you go beyond that and want to take your Pilates practice further, performing the core Pilates exercises twice or three times per week will help you see bigger chances in your strength, stability, flexibility, and mobility. With this level of dedicated practice, you may start to see a difference in the way you sit, walk, and carry yourself. Your posture and mobility will begin to improve, and you may even notice better mental concentration and control.
What about rest days?
Pilates is a low impact exercise, so the amount of rest and recovery needed between sessions is relatively low. So if you want to participate in Pilates classes a few days in a row, worry not. In fact, Pilates is so gentle (and so beneficial) that it’s even okay to practice Pilates on your rest days from other exercises. Just be aware that even the smooth movements of Pilates can cause micro-damage to muscles, requiring time to refresh them and build them back up.
