Pilates has become one of my favourite workouts in the last few years, just like it has for many other women my age. Going to the studio twice a week with my thick yoga mat has kept me strong, flexible, and happy.
Daily Pilates Routine at Home
I do my strength training and cycling workouts at home, but I don’t do Pilates at home very often. But this month, my schedule is even busier than usual, so I haven’t had much choice but to do Pilates at home for just 10 minutes every day.
Consistency Over Intensity
I write a lot about how much or how little exercise we need to do to see changes and improvements in our bodies. I had a feeling that just doing Pilates for 10 minutes a day would make a difference. After all, consistency is often more important than intensity.
Stronger Core Muscles
Pilates is the only other exercise that works my core as well as it does. Since I had three kids, my stomach muscles have never been the same, so my stomach is a top priority. I also have pain in my lower back, which is why I’m working to keep my core muscles strong as I get older. This pain should not get worse.
I always took a few minutes to wake up my core before each workout. There are so many choices in Pilates that this isn’t hard. The Hundred, the bird-dog exercise, the dead bug, the plank variations, and the teaser are some of my favourites.
Georgia Weibel, a Pilates instructor and the founder of Sync With Georgia, says that one of the best things about doing just 10 minutes of Pilates is that it will help you get stronger in your core, which will help you in everyday activities like “walking, lifting, shopping, or sitting at a desk.”
Better Posture
Many of us spend hours sitting at desks, hunched over, and not moving our bodies enough. Georgia says that one good thing about a short Pilates workout is that “within a week or two, you’ll feel taller and less tense in your shoulders and neck.” When you work on your core, your back and abdominal muscles also get stronger. This helps your posture and eases any aches and pains you may have.
Georgia also says that “on a deeper level, daily low-impact movement improves circulation and lymphatic flow, which can help with that heavy, sluggish feeling that many women get when they are stressed or sitting for long periods of time.”
Good for Your Mental Health
You want to do something more if it makes you feel good inside and out. This is what happened to me when I tried this Pilates challenge. My husband told me on the third day, “You look very happy lying there,” and he was right. I was glad. I was taking time for myself, moving my body, and getting stronger. Georgia says that even a “small but meaningful commitment to yourself” will help you feel more confident and trust yourself more.
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I have always loved that Pilates makes me focus more on what I’m doing as I get stronger and better at it. The moves have gotten harder, which means my brain can’t think about the other things that stress me out in life. This is a great time to take a break from all the mental work.
Georgia says, “The breathing patterns used in Pilates help wake up the nervous system, which is the body’s way of calming down.” It can help you relax and get out of “fight or flight” mode, which is how a lot of us feel.
Emma Mahama, a Pilates instructor who owns the Everybody Reformer studios in London, says, “It also builds quiet confidence.” You walk and move differently as you get stronger and more in touch with your body. This physical strength often leads to mental strength as well.
It Never Gets Old
I’ve never been bored doing Pilates, but some days an hour-long class is harder than others, and I know I couldn’t do one every day. It’s easy to change up your routine every day when you only do Pilates for 10 minutes. You usually want more and never look at the clock.
There were a few days when I was more tired, so I changed the moves to fit how my body felt. On days when I didn’t feel like working out, I would do slower moves like clams and glute bridges. I used my weights to do strength-based moves like squats on some days. Georgia says, “When women realise that their energy levels change throughout the month, movement becomes much more natural and long-lasting.”
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I also used the Peloton app to change things up even more. It has a lot of 10-minute classes, which makes it one of the best Pilates apps. There are other apps and YouTube channels that offer similar classes and a wider range of options.
