How Many Pilates Classes To See Results?

One of the most frequent questions we get at our Pilates studio, is “How many Pilates classes do I need to take until I see results?” While it’s certainly a fair question, there are a few things you need to consider before answering (especially since "results" can be very subjective depending on who you are).

Pilates classes provide amazing toning and resistance training and can be taken by people of every age bracket or fitness level. As with any exercise routine, if you practice Pilates several times a week, you’re pretty much guaranteed to see results in a matter of months.

The thing is, though, that the results you get from Pilates training go much deeper and than the majority of other workouts available. The activities namesake, Joseph Pilates, offered up this brilliant quote when asked from a student how long it was going to take to see a difference:

“In 10 sessions, you will feel the difference. In 20, you will see the difference. And in 30, you’ll be on your way to having a whole new body.”

Joseph was emphatic about CONSISTENCY, and how a regular practice can do more than just tone and lean out your body. It's like anything you choose to do in life. If you want to see results, you have to put in the proper amount of time and energy. Basically, "you get out what you put in." What we’ve found through working with clients at our Pilates studio is that in the first 5 sessions, you typically start to gain a greater awareness and control of your entire body. Your posture steadily improves, and your breath will become more focused. You may even begin alleviating muscle soreness and back pain. With continued practice however, you’ll see increased muscle tone definition, and will feel different in the way you move in everyday activities. Additionally, your posture will get better and better.

Keep in mind that there are several other factors that play a role in how fast you see results from taking Pilates classes or private sessions. For example, proper nutrition makes up the vast majority of the equation when it comes to your health. This is why it’s critical to keep yourself up-to-date with the latest nutrition information and practices. Your session frequency also has a huge impact on how fast you see and feel a change in your body, as well as the intensity of your workouts. When you focus on form and breath, challenge yourself with each session, and integrate the six principles of Pilates each time you exercise, you’ll see changes faster than you could imagine!