The 3 most common questions I get asked.
When I talk to our members I often hear the same concerns and questions popping up and perhaps you also wonder about these things.
So, here are the 3 most common questions I get asked.
1. Is 15 minutes of Pilates really enough to make any real difference?
2. How do I get motivated at home on my own?
3. Do I need to get to a certain level of fitness before I start? What if I have a ‘bung knee’ ‘sore shoulder’, ‘achy neck’…. The list goes on!
Is 15 minutes enough to make any difference?
Here’s the good news! 15 minutes of good quality, careful movement will make a big difference to how you feel and it is enough to make a difference! I know this from personal experience and have seen how 15 minutes of Pilates a day can transform the lives of many women!
When you decide to find 15 minutes for yourself each day, it’s doable. If I had to carve out an hour for exercise, it would just be another thing to add to my ‘to do’ list. Finding an hour for a hard, uncomfortable workout becomes a huge obstacle. I’ve tried this strategy. I ended up skipping classes and then felt like I’d failed or had fallen behind. This made getting back up and trying again so much harder!
Feel good about your 15 minutes and then let this feeling of achievement ripple into other areas of your life.
When we begin to create the habit of 15 minutes a day, we are finally able to become consistent. This is where the magic happens. You’ll begin to notice how the little snippets of movement throughout the week add up.
My members usually find that they feel better after just one week. They start to notice new muscles ‘waking up’, and have a fresh energy about themselves.
After 4 weeks, many of the members start to say they notice muscle tone for the first time in years and that their clothes are fitting a little differently.
After 6 weeks, habits are formed and lifestyles have changed. This is so exciting as members begin to feel stronger and more confident than ever before.
How do I get motivated at home?
I’m not going to lie, starting something new or changing up your routine is a challenge! However, the way you think about your Pilates time will help you get going.
Just imagine how you’ll feel in a few months time, when you start to realise the compound effect of your 15 minutes a day!
Think about your Pilates time as being stress free and uncomplicated, knowing that every little bit counts.
I see too many women give up too soon. They skip a class or a week, and then feel like that’s another failed attempt. It takes time to change habits, and we need to be kinder to ourselves!
Our actions create the motivation. Click play, even when you don’t feel like it, but tomorrow, clicking play will be easier. I promise!
Learn to trust the process and give yourself fresh starts everyday. You will progress, just take one step at a time.
Do I need to get to a certain level of fitness before I start?
The great thing about Pilates is that you can start from where you are right now. You don’t need to get fitter first, you don’t need fancy equipment, you don’t need a studio.
Just you and the mat.
Show up, click play and do what you can.
In every class I suggest modifications so that you can choose the right option for you. In My Pilates Time, there is no competition. We don’t compare ourselves to each other, and the aim is to progress. One step at a time.
I love to remind my members of their progress. They progress gradually, so sometimes don’t see it in themselves! It’s encouraging and motivating to pay attention to your progress.
If you have an old injury, or some part of you that hurts, you can still do Pilates. I can show you ways to exercise that won’t cause you discomfort. There’s always a work around.
Just remember:
Every little bit counts
You can create motivation
Start from where you are
If you’d like to get started today, join the FREE 7 day Pilates Challenge.
See you on the mat,
Beth
