Why you need to do virtual Pilates right now
Going to the Pilates studio is not an option right now but if you can, you should still work with your Pilates Instructor. Staying at home takes a lot of movement out of your life. Even just walking from the car to your house, around a store or the office puts a lot more movement into our lives than what we might get just being at home. Walking outside or on a treadmill is good exercise but it’s not enough. We need more movement right now instead of less. Doing Pilates with a live instructor has the same value as it does in the studio, it just happens a little differently for the moment. Here are five reasons we need to be doing virtual Pilates right now.
Pilates is working with your own body weight and resistance. If you are used to working with Pilates equipment, that is all support work toward using your own resistance. Even if you don’t have access to the equipment, you can do the exercises from the equipment. Your body will respond differently because you have to provide all the support. If you need some extra support for your body you can use things like pillows, a foam roller if you have it or a small ball to support your body.
Working out with your instructor live, online can help you stay accountable. You will have a break from everything else. You will have someone to tell you what to do with your body, what comes next and how to make it more challenging or modify specifically for you. Just like it’s hard to skip an in person session when you’ve already paid, it’s hard to skip it online.
If you continue to support your instructor and studio during this time there is a better chance they will be able to reopen and keep teaching you once the stay at home orders are lifted. The truth is some Pilates studios will probably have to close because they don’t have enough students supporting them online. Pilates is a business just like any other. We need your support now more than ever.
You’ve invested time and money into your practice. Give yourself the opportunity for as much normalcy as possible by keeping up with your classes and private sessions. You might need to adjust the time or the length. One student took her once a week session and split it into two shorter sessions. This way she gets her movement in each week, giving her an extra day for Pilates and just enough time for the kids to watch a show.
Pilates helps relive stress, work your body without overwhelming it and help you sleep better. Pilates provides real results with consistent practice. That doesn’t mean you will look like a supermodel. But you can feel better, get stronger and stretch without leaving your house or using fancy equipment.
If you’ve done Pilates in the past don’t give it up just because you can’t use a reformer or springs. If you can, work with your current teacher to help support local business, your community and those that have supported you. Use this as an opportunity to see what you are capable of. Find your inner strength and challenge all the work you’ve done leading up to this. Together we can overcome the restrictions and work together to find solutions. But we cannot do it alone. If you would like to try live online Pilates classes check my store and Instagram links for options. Live online private, duet and small group sessions are booked here. If you’ve tried online Pilates with me let me know how you like it in the comments!
