What Happens During a Private Training Pilates Session?
A lot of people enter Pilates studios wanting group training, yet they've never been on a machine before. And don't get me wrong—the energy of a group class can be super fun. The music is high, the lights are low, and my competitive people are seeing how much longer they can out-plank their neighbor.
But the number one thing we hear from new clients is that they're nervous because they've never been on a machine before.
Now, that doesn't mean private training is just for people who are nervous or brand new.
When you have super specific goals, have never been on a reformer, haven't been working out, or quite frankly want something completely tailored to you and your body, private training can be one of the most effective ways to train.
So much so that Pilates and Lagree actually started as personal training.
And so did Core (LP).
Private training allows us to slow things down when we need to, answer your questions in real time, pay attention to the details and build the workout around you.
Why Core Strength Is About More Than Visible Abs
Let's talk about the core.
Because fitness has always had an aesthetic attached to it.
The 90s gave us skinny culture. The 2000s swung hard in the other direction and celebrated curves. And since the Pilates boom post-COVID, we've somehow landed right back at the size-0 ideal — except now she's wearing an Alo set, drinking a green juice and casually showing off a perfectly flat stomach while telling us this is what "strong" looks like.
And listen...I love an Alo set.
But let's actually think about this for a second.
A flat stomach is not the definition of a strong core.
And I honestly think that's something the Pilates industry should be talking about a hell of a lot more.
Your core can be incredibly strong without being flat, defined or remotely resembling the stomach of the person teaching your class. Genetics, body composition, hormones, nutrition and a whole host of other factors influence what your midsection looks like.
Strength is what your body can do. Aesthetic is what your body looks like. They're not the same thing.
How Many Times Per Week Should I Do Pilates as a Beginner?
When I first started working out during my senior year at Michigan State, I thought the only way I'd see results was if I worked out every single day.
Then one of my friends convinced me to join an eight-week fitness challenge.
The commitment?
Just two classes a week.
I'll admit...I laughed.
Two workouts? That wasn't going to change anything.
Fast forward eight weeks, and not only had those two workouts become one of my favorite parts of the week, but they completely changed the way I looked at fitness.
Because I learned something I still tell clients today:
You don't need to do more. You need to do what you can actually sustain and then build from there.