Heads Up on Your Body

What to Expect From Your First Pilates Session

When you decide to sign up for your first private pilates session, you might be wondering what to expect. What’s going to happen during the hour? How will you feel? What should you bring or wear?

Here is an overview of what to expect during a typical, classical pilates session for the first time.

What should you wear?
Wear what you feel comfortable in: a comfortable top (t-shirt or tank) with leggings or sweatpants. Most women choose to wear sports bras for the flexibility and breathability of the material.

Its not a fashion show, but you should wear clothing that makes you feel great, too. There are usually mirrors in pilates studios, and you do a lot of “looking into your center”- so if you catch a glimpse of your bod, you want to like what you see so you don’t feel discouraged.

Shoes are not necessary during a pilates session, but check with the studio about their policy on socks- some require socks, while others don’t.

How will you feel during and after the session?
Most people say they already feel different even after just one pilates session. You might feel taller, leaner, and stretched out. You will feel like you just worked out, but at the same time you had more energy than you did before. You might feel like you just used muscles you didn’t even know you had! These are good things.

The next day, you may feel slightly sore in your “core”. You might even feel some neck or back tension. If you do feel sore in your neck or back, talk to you instructor next time. You shouldn’t feel back or neck pain during or after pilates, and if you do, your teacher and can help you figure out why. Typically, as you gain core strength, these tensions go away.

Don’t be too hard on yourself during your first pilates session. There are lots of things to do and remember, and your coordination and breathing might feel off. This is normal! I promise, your next session, and the sessions after, will start to make more and more sense.

What should you expect during the session?
The first session will most likely teach you the basics of pilates: neutral pelvis, some breathing techniques, how to engage your core, and beginner pilates exercises.

Your first session will most likely include working out on the mat, tower, and reformer, with some stretching on the barrel. Your teacher will decide what pieces of equipment to work on and what exercises you do based on your physical fitness, injuries you may have, and your current flexibility.

Before your first session, your teacher will most likely take a few minutes to discuss your physical history, any injuries you have/have had, and anything else you wrote down on the form you filled out when you came into the studio. This is a great time to tell your teacher about your body. Be sure to talk about any pains you have, injuries you have, and your habits throughout the day. All of these things will help your teacher develop the right program for you.

If you have any other questions about your first session, be sure to talk with your instructor on the phone before you go into the studio, so you can go over any details and to ensure that you feel confident going in and you have an idea of what to expect!

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