Pilates is one of those fitness activities that most of us know about but never really get in to. It’s got that (unfair) air of aloofness about it, thanks to its association with slim, white, wealthy women who have time to pop in for a strengthening and lengthening session in between coffee dates. 

As a former fitness journalist, however, I’ve spent hours upon hours trying different forms of workouts. From traditional strength training to running and barre, I’ve thrown my hat in the ring multiple times but never really found my thing. That is, until I stumbled across classical pilates.

A system of exercises created by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s, pilates is a sequence of exercises (mat-based and equipment-based) that create strength and flexibility throughout the body and correct imbalances. 

In the spirit of finding a form of exercise I could follow for a long time (consistency is always better than flash-in-the-pan habits when it comes to fitness) and that would reap serious compound health benefits, I followed a classical pilates regime for a month at north London studio Exhale London. Here’s what I learned during the 30 days, as well as a quick refresher on the differences between classical and contemporary pilates. 

If the word ‘pilates’ brings to mind thoughts of packed in reformer beds, pounding club-esque music and fast-paced movements that feel impossible to keep up with, know you’re not alone. Contemporary pilates has a ‘base’ in the classical movements prescribed by founder Joseph Pilates but, often, a base is all it is. 

Classical pilates is never performed to music and is usually executed in a pre-determined series and sequence. Not only that, but classical pilates uses a range of equipment not commonly seen in pop-culture pilates studios. 

“A fully equipped classical studio houses various types of equipment that all give a different feeling and work different parts of the body, all while giving the muscles different feedback to work on,” explains Gaby Noble, the founder of classical pilates studios Exhale. “These include the universal reformer, cadillac, wunda chair, high chair, baby chair, barrels, neck stretcher, a pedi pole and many other pieces that allow our clients to get the full classical experience for their bodies and mind. When worked like this, it’s an incredibly powerful system.”

I felt stronger and more stable than ever before

As the month progressed, I felt stronger and more stable throughout my entire body – noticeable even in small moments like standing in line at the supermarket or sitting at my makeshift home desk. My posture improved and I felt that I was standing more upright, supported by my newly engaged core (or, powerhouse, as pilates would say).

This isn’t a surprise, says Noble, building deep strength within the body is a key part of classical pilates.

“Classical pilates focuses on building on the fundamentals. This means you can begin to flow through the exercises as you become more advanced – rather than speeding through the exercises to raise your heart rate and ‘feel the burn’,” explains Noble. 

“You can certainly still feel the body working, but the focus is more on a full mind and body connection, using the ‘powerhouse’ (the pilates term for your core, glutes, inner thighs and back muscles) to work from a strong centre. Classical pilates works the body equally to build uniform strength – it goes deeper into the muscles rather than focusing on ‘superficial’ muscles or individual muscle groups (eg your legs, glutes or stomach) to avoid any imbalances.

“Resistance is added with springs and through bodyweight, which means you’re only ever pushing against a force that you can handle. This not only limits possible injuries but allows you to practise pilates regularly without experiencing inhibiting aches and pains for days after – something that can happen through high impact training.”

The tower became the best bit of kit I’d never heard of

When I first stepped foot in the Exhale studio, I had done a number of contemporary reformer classes at other studios and dabbled in mat-based pilates. What I didn’t expect was to discover a totally different piece of equipment I enjoyed more. 

The tower, a mat-based workout with all equipment on a structure fixed to the wall, is a form of pilates that uses arm and leg springs, a roll-back bar, a push-through bar and poles. It follows a more creative structure than the reformer (which always follows a set sequence in classical pilates) and builds uniform strength. 

“Not as many people know about the tower and they are missing out,” says Noble. “It’s a more creative workout, as you can use the leg springs, arm springs, push through and roll back bar in any variation to modify the exercises. 

“The springs not only add resistance to the exercises, but they also support the body and aid alignment. Unlike the reformer, the tower has less support which can feel more freeing and also more intense!”

Pilates provided much needed calm into my day

We all experience stress in our daily lives. It’s a facet of modern living trying to work, socialise, perform self-care and keep up with the long list of commitments that come with being a human adult. In my opinion, I never want my workout routine to add any more stress into my life. A dark room with ear-splitting music and a barrage of shouted instructions now feels more like a punishment than a fun way to move my body. Don’t at me – I was a firm friend of those forms of exercise for a long time. 

Classical pilates and, specifically, the airy Exhale studio, created pockets of blissful calm in my day. I even found myself looking forward to 7am classes. The class sizes are small which means instructions are highly personal and adjustments are explained thoroughly and there’s no music playing. Rather than distract myself with trying to hear above fast-paced lyrics, I could focus on my alignment, the cues being given and noting where I had improved on the class before. 

My workouts felt measured and controlled and I knew I would leave each session having done something good for my body and my mind – a truly priceless feeling. 

I could do things at the end that seemed impossible at the start

Classical pilates equipment can look intimidating at first glance. Between all the raised arms and legs, springs, poles and bars, there’s a lot going on. As you work through a class, it becomes clear what they’re all for and when they should be used, but, yes, it’s more than just a mat and springy ring. 

However, chipping away at exercises that were out of my grasp at the beginning of the month was transformative to my confidence.

There was no expectation at Exhale that you walk in brilliant at pilates. In fact, it’s required that you undergo a private 1:1 induction before joining a group class to familiarise yourself with basic movements and the equipment. 

“In Exhale teacher training, we learn the intention behind every movement. The teacher knows the exercises inside and out, so they are able to cue individuals based on what their needs are within the exercise. Rather than shouting orders, they read the body and use language that they feel is necessary to get the best out of the individual,” explains Noble.

I definitely noticed a difference to my physical and mental health after a month of pilates – and I don’t intend to stop now.

Main image: courtesy of brand