How Many Pilates Classes Should I Do A Week?

Whether you’re just beginning your Pilates journey or returning to classes after a time away, it can be hard to know how often you need to attend in order to feel the benefits. Finding the sweet spot between results and a balanced lifestyle can be harder than it sounds!

When it comes to Pilates, like many physical activities, you get out of it what you put in. At the same time, however, we see firsthand that people incorporate Pilates into their lifestyle for a multitude of reasons; and regularly moving your body is certainly better than no movement at all!

If you’re looking for guidance on how many classes a week will help you achieve your goals, we’re here to help – keep reading to learn more about how to work out the best frequency of classes for you.

What do you want to get out of your Pilates classes?

The first question to ask yourself is – “Why have I decided to incorporate Pilates into my routine?”

The motivations behind your practice can help you to identify whether you’re working towards an outcome, and from there how often you should attend in order to achieve it.

For some of our clients, they love the social aspect of Pilates – so once a week is perfect for them to catch up with friends and head out for a coffee afterwards.

For some of our more regular faces, they’re wanting to address a physical ailment or recover from a niggly injury. They’re in more frequently, as their recovery depends on cumulative progress.

And there are those who just want to improve their everyday movement – sitting somewhere in between!

Is there such a thing as too many Pilates classes?

There’s an important trap to avoid when making Pilates part of your routine – which is to equate more classes with quicker progress. Pilates classes are all about endurance, focus and discipline – and that extends to the practice more widely, too! Going too hard, too quickly can cause more problems than it solves.

What’s your activity level like?

Another question to ask yourself is where Pilates fits into your overall exercise routine.

If classes will be your primary means of movement during the week, you can afford to attend more regularly than if you are utilising Pilates as a support to other training.

The same principle can be applied to your experience level with Pilates, too. If you’re more experienced, your muscles will likely recover quicker after a class than if you’re experiencing these movement patterns for the first time.

So, what’s the right frequency for me?

Taking all the above into account, we generally recommend the following class frequencies:

1-2 times a week: You’re just starting out with Pilates, or using classes to complement other training
2-3 times a week: You have some experience under your belt, and you’re looking to make Pilates your primary form of exercise
4 times a week: You’re experienced with the movements and want to accelerate your results; or you want to actively address the loss of bone density (or maybe you just really enjoy Pilates – that’s okay too!)

Everyone’s body responds differently to these movements, so it’s important to check in with how you’re feeling and take extra time to rest if you need it. Work up to additional classes gradually, and you’ll feel the difference in no time!

Still not sure what the right number of classes is for your needs? Come by the studio and chat with our friendly team members for more guidance.