Everything You Should Know About the Pilates Trend
By Ellie Jornlin
May 13, 2023
Image Credit: bruce mars for Unsplash
If your fitness routine has been getting a little repetitive, it may be a good idea to try a new class or add a different form of exercise. Taking a pilates class may be a fun way to refresh your workout plan and try something new.
Pilates is a type of workout that includes many strength and flexibility exercises that center around the use of the breath. It is extremely versatile and can be done in a group setting, at the gym, or in the comfort of your home.
Carrie Jornlin is a senior nutrition and biochem major at Mercyhurst University who teaches a pilates and yoga class at the university’s gym.
“I got into pilates because of the benefits that it has for back health. A few years ago I had surgery on my back and pilates made the healing process so much faster. I recommend that everyone try going to a few pilates classes if you can because the benefits are endless,” Jornlin said.
There are many benefits of pilates, including pain relief, core strength, posture, flexibility, balance, breath control and even improved mental health, according to Healthline.
Pilates is a form of strength training, but is different from many strength training exercises that you may be familiar with. It focuses on toning muscles and reducing injury, rather than putting on muscle mass.
If you are interested in starting on your pilates journey, it is important to find a qualified instructor. Whether you attend an in-person class or follow a pilates instructor online, reading reviews and receiving recommendations from friends can be helpful to find someone who works for you.
UMD’s RecWell offers many group fitness classes, varying in time spans and activities. There aren’t currently any pilates-only classes offered, but there are a few that incorporate movements.
According to the RecWell website, Barre is a fitness class that “combines movement from ballet, pilates, and yoga to deliver you an effective and fun full-body workout.” Barre is currently offered on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Eppley.
Freshman engineering major Kaitlyn Hunter went to a Barre class for the first time recently.
“The class was definitely challenging as I had never done any form of pilates before, but I was really glad I went. I’ve never been one to spend time in the weight room, so I was really happy to find that Eppley offered a class like this,” Hunter said.
There are also a variety of yoga classes that are similar to pilates, including Hatha Yoga, Power Yoga and Yoga Restore.
There are also many gyms and pilates studios that offer classes near UMD’s campus, such as OpenBarre College Park and OrangeTheory, which are on Baltimore Ave. Club Pilates also offers classes in nearby Silver Spring.
While starting a new type of workout can be intimidating, it’s important to start slow and do your research to see if it could be beneficial for you. Give pilates a try and it might just change your workout routine!
Pilates is a type of workout that includes many strength and flexibility exercises that center around the use of the breath. It is extremely versatile and can be done in a group setting, at the gym, or in the comfort of your home.
Carrie Jornlin is a senior nutrition and biochem major at Mercyhurst University who teaches a pilates and yoga class at the university’s gym.
“I got into pilates because of the benefits that it has for back health. A few years ago I had surgery on my back and pilates made the healing process so much faster. I recommend that everyone try going to a few pilates classes if you can because the benefits are endless,” Jornlin said.
There are many benefits of pilates, including pain relief, core strength, posture, flexibility, balance, breath control and even improved mental health, according to Healthline.
Pilates is a form of strength training, but is different from many strength training exercises that you may be familiar with. It focuses on toning muscles and reducing injury, rather than putting on muscle mass.
If you are interested in starting on your pilates journey, it is important to find a qualified instructor. Whether you attend an in-person class or follow a pilates instructor online, reading reviews and receiving recommendations from friends can be helpful to find someone who works for you.
UMD’s RecWell offers many group fitness classes, varying in time spans and activities. There aren’t currently any pilates-only classes offered, but there are a few that incorporate movements.
According to the RecWell website, Barre is a fitness class that “combines movement from ballet, pilates, and yoga to deliver you an effective and fun full-body workout.” Barre is currently offered on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Eppley.
Freshman engineering major Kaitlyn Hunter went to a Barre class for the first time recently.
“The class was definitely challenging as I had never done any form of pilates before, but I was really glad I went. I’ve never been one to spend time in the weight room, so I was really happy to find that Eppley offered a class like this,” Hunter said.
There are also a variety of yoga classes that are similar to pilates, including Hatha Yoga, Power Yoga and Yoga Restore.
There are also many gyms and pilates studios that offer classes near UMD’s campus, such as OpenBarre College Park and OrangeTheory, which are on Baltimore Ave. Club Pilates also offers classes in nearby Silver Spring.
While starting a new type of workout can be intimidating, it’s important to start slow and do your research to see if it could be beneficial for you. Give pilates a try and it might just change your workout routine!