How to Vary Your Pilates Workouts

10 Ways to Keep your Pilates Workouts Interesting

Here are some ideas for varying your Pilates workouts so that they remain safe, balanced, effective and interesting:

1. Mix it up – go to classes, but add in working out at home with DVDs or Books.
   See DVD and Book Reviews
2. Do both reformer and mat work.
   See Pilates Mat Exercises
3. Make up a new home workout for yourself.
   Include a warm up, build up and cool down. Also, be aware of counter balancing your exercises. Example: balance forward flexion with back extension exercises.
   Quick Pilates Workout 1 is a good example of a balanced workout you can do at home.
   
   Examples of forward flexion exercises:
   
   • The Hundred
   
   
   • Single Leg Stretch
   
   Examples of extension exercises:
   
   • Swimming
   
   
   • Plank

4. Do a day of focus on breath, awareness and control.
   See the Pilates Principles.
5. Follow #4 with a day of pulling those principles into creating more flow in a challenging workout.
6. Do a workout of all warm up exercises.
   Sample warm ups:
   
   • Pelvic Curl
   
   
   • Sequential Breathing
7. Try working out with a magic circle(exercise ring, fitness circle).
   Read There are many varieties of these.
   
   • Read: Before You Buy a Magic Circle for an introduction and buying tips.
   
   
   Magic Circles often come with a DVD of sample exercises.
8. Workout with a friend. Workout at home, or many studios offer an expanded version of a private, called a "duet".
   Don't be afraid to ask - duet workouts are quite common in Pilates.
9. Sign up for private instruction. Privates are a bit more money but very worthwhile. I highly recommend them.
10. Try out a new studio or style of Pilates.