How to Vary Your Pilates Workouts

10 Ways to Keep your Pilates Workouts Interesting

By Marguerite Ogle, About.com Guide

Updated March 23, 2009

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

Mix it up – go to classes, but add in working out at home with DVDs or Books.
Read DVD and Book Reviews
Add new equipment to your mat work.
Make up a new home workout for yourself.
See, How to Create Your Own Workout
Be sure to include warm up exercises. 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
Do a day of serious focus on the Pilates Principles.
Follow #4 with a day of pulling those principles into creating more flow in a challenging workout.
20 Core Minutes of Pilates or The First 10 Classics
Explore Pilates Combined with Yoga
- The Pilates - Yoga Connection
- Pilates and Yoga Exercises
Try working out with a magic circle(exercise ring, fitness circle).
There are many varieties of Pilates magic circles.
- Read: Before You Buy a Magic Circle for an introduction and buying tips.
Magic Circles often come with a DVD of sample exercises. Find some Magic Circles:
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.
Sign up for private instruction. Privates are a bit more money but very worthwhile. I highly recommend them.
Try out a new studio or style of Pilates.

How to Vary Your Pilates Workouts

10 Ways to Keep your Pilates Workouts Interesting

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