How To Supplement Your Pilates Gym Membership With Home Workouts
Many Pilates enthusiasts struggle with the cost of Pilates. Classes are expensive, running anywhere from $20-40 per session. If you’re following the CDC recommended 3-5 workouts per week, you may be paying anywhere from $3,000-$10,000 per year for Pilates.
Why are Pilates classes so expensive?
When you understand it from the studio’s perspective, the cost makes sense. You’re paying for your instructor’s expertise and time on the expensive equipment. Classes are usually small so each person can get adequate attention and because the equipment is large, limiting the number of spots in a class. But that doesn’t change the burden it places on gym members.
There’s no denying the benefit of an in-person instructor providing feedback and correcting your form. But if you want to maintain a consistent Pilates routine, it may be best to supplement your practice with home workouts. Somato offers a compact home Pilates reformer along with classes so you can do more of your favorite workout without breaking the bank.
Here's how you can integrate both for optimal results.
1. Understand Your Goals: Begin by assessing your fitness goals. Whether it's improving flexibility, building core strength, or enhancing overall fitness, your goals will dictate the blend of gym and home workouts.
2. Leverage Gym Resources: Gym sessions provide access to expert instructors who can answer questions that come up during your home workouts, help you learn skills you’re struggling with, and provide helpful form correction and reminders. Make the most of their guidance by implementing what you’ve learned in the gym back at home. When you feel you’ve plateaued or need hands-on help, head back to the gym for a refresher.
3. Home Workouts for Consistency: On days you can’t make it to the gym, home workouts ensure continuity. Utilize basic equipment like mats, resistance bands, or even household items to maintain your routine. For even better home workouts, invest in equipment like the Somato reformer and app for a versatile library of instructor-led routines to fit your needs.
4. Focus on Core Pilates Principles: At home, concentrate on the Pilates principles of control, concentration, and fluidity. Exercises like the plank, leg circles, or the Pilates hundred can be easily done without gym equipment.
5. Online Resources and Apps: Leverage online Pilates classes or apps, like the Somato app, for guided home sessions. These can be particularly useful for maintaining correct form and adding variety to your routine.
6. Create a Balanced Schedule: Strike a balance between gym and home workouts. For instance, plan gym sessions for complex routines you need extra help with and reserve home workouts for familiar exercises.
7. Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to your body’s response. If certain gym exercises feel too intense, opt for modifications. The key is to maintain consistency without overexertion.
8. Track Your Progress: Keep a journal or use fitness apps to track progress. Note improvements in flexibility, strength, and overall well-being from combining gym and home workouts.
9. Stay Connected with the Community: Engage with the Pilates community, both online and offline. Share experiences, tips, and stay motivated by the collective energy.
10. Be Patient and Persistent: Remember, the journey is as important as the destination. Enjoy the process of blending gym and home workouts for a comprehensive Pilates practice.