Is Pilates enough of a workout?

Yes, it is. As demonstrated above, Pilates is a strength training exercise that has similar benefits to those seen through weightlifting workouts. However, despite these benefits, Pilates is typically not a cardio-specific exercise, so if you want to improve your cardiovascular health, your muscle strength, and your endurance, we suggest adding some cardio exercises such as walking, swimming, hiking, or jumping rope to your weekly routine.

Why is Pilates so expensive?

Pilates classes are said to be costly as they need to accommodate the cost of the specialized equipment – reformers are rather pricey, studio fees, instructor expertise, and the personalized attention given to each person during a class. If you can’t avoid these expenses, we suggest doing mat or wall Pilates at home.

What is the 80/20 rule in Pilates?

The 80/20 rule comes from the Pareto principle, which states that roughly 80% of any outcome is controlled by just 20% of activities/factors ( 13 ). Therefore, in Pilates, sports, or any other physical activity, we can say that 80% of your success will come from 20% of the effort applied.

Can you get fit with Pilates?

Yes, you can. As seen above, research has shown that this workout regimen can help with muscle strength, growth, and endurance. Studies have also shown that participating in this exercise routine can help improve your body composition through the improvement of body weight, waist circumference, lean mass, and BMI ( 14 , 15 ).