A lot of people ask us, "How often should I do it to see results?" when they first start doing Pilates. That's a great question. There isn't one magic number, but if you understand the suggestions and make them work for you, you can unlock the full power of this amazing practice.
The Classic Recommendation: Joseph Pilates' Vision
Joseph Pilates is famous for saying, "In 10 sessions you'll feel the difference, in 20 sessions you'll see the difference, and in 30 sessions you'll have a whole new body." He said that you should do Pilates at least three times a week. People often think that this frequency, along with consistency, is the best way to see big and long-lasting changes.
Things that Affect Your Ideal Pilates Frequency
Three times a week is the best way to make quick progress, but your perfect schedule will depend on a number of personal factors:
Your goals:
General Fitness/Maintenance: You can keep your current level of strength, flexibility, and core engagement by doing it once or twice a week.
Significant Change/Rehab: 2–3 times a week is great for building new strength, fixing bad posture, fixing imbalances, or helping with rehab.
Athletic Improvement/Rapid Progress: If you're an athlete who wants to cross-train or someone who wants to see results faster, working out 3–4 times a week or more may help, as long as you take breaks.
Your Current Level of Fitness:
Beginners: Starting with one or two sessions a week gives your body time to adjust, learn the basics, and become more aware without being too much. You can slowly increase the frequency as you get stronger.
Experienced Practitioners: You might be able to keep your level with 2 sessions, or you could push yourself to new challenges with 3–4 sessions, depending on how much you want to improve.
Your time and money:
Think about what is possible! It's better to set a frequency that you can stick to than to try to do it every day and get burned out.
Think about a mix: Maybe one day you do a dynamic Reformer Pilates class and the next day you do a hard Mat Pilates class.
What Your Body Needs to Heal:
Pilates is a workout even though it doesn't hurt. Pay attention to your body. If you're too tired or sore, take some time off. Active recovery, such as walking or gentle stretching, can also be helpful.
Consistency is more important than intensity.
No matter how often you do it, the most important thing is to be consistent. Regular practice, even if it's less frequent, will help you make much more progress than sporadic, intense sessions. Think of Pilates as building a base. Each session adds strength, control, and flexibility, one at a time.
A weekly Pilates class can be helpful, especially for being more aware of your body and reducing stress. But to really "feel the difference" and "see the difference," as Joseph Pilates promised, working out 2–3 times a week is usually the best way to find the right balance of challenge, progress, and recovery.
At Body Haus Lifestyle Club, you can find your Pilates rhythm.
Body Haus Lifestyle Club in Muskegon and Norton Shores is here to help you whether you want to start Pilates classes or deepen your current practice. We have a range of class types and times that work with your busy schedule, making it easier for you to stick to a regular schedule.
Our expert teachers can help you figure out how often you should do your goals and be there for you every step of the way. Learn how doing Pilates regularly can change your body and mind.
Are you ready to make a commitment to your health? Check out our Pilates schedule at Body Haus Lifestyle Club to find the right time for you.