I do often bang on about Private Pilates being far superior to group Pilates classes because I think the benefits of personalised instruction helps people progress faster towards their health and wellbeing goals.
However, that is not to say that group Pilates doesn’t have benefits!
Some of those benefits include:
Increased Confidence
Sometimes you just need a friend to hold your hand when you try something for the very first time. Coming to a group class can be less intimidating and encourage you to just give it a go!
Socialising
When you attend a group class, you are instantly bonded through that community. You obviously share something in common and as humans, we are all looking to relate and be understood.
Accelerating Motivation
When you participate in a group session, everyone works together toward the same goal. You may even find that you end up working harder, as you’re encouraged by everyone around you. Not only does this give you a motivation boost, but you might also find it gives you a bit of friendly competition (see next point).
Adding that Competitive Edge
Adding that competitive edge: Everyone likes a bit of healthy competition! You don’t have to play a sport to be competitive. Group training often satisfies the competitive craving. It may be the motivator you need to push yourself that little bit further.
Establishing Accountability
Hate the feeling of letting down a mate? Then sign up to a group class with them. On those days when it’s wet and cold and you don’t want to leave the house, knowing your buddy is going to be there, waiting for you, might just be that little push you need to get to class. You never regret a movement session!
Save Some Money
Group classes will be cheaper than private classes simply because the teacher will be teaching to the average body in a ratio that favours the student. That is, it won’t be targeted instruction for each individual’s needs, which is not always a bad thing, provided you meet some standards I’ll outline below.
So Who’s a Good Candidate for Group Pilates?
Standard 1: Are you a healthy body?
As in, do you have any injuries or ailments? I’m not talking about regular, run-of-the-mill stiff shoulders and bung knees- we all have some niggly stuff going on in our bodies, I’m talking about more serious injuries like recent disc bulges or recent surgery or your first step back to exercise after having a baby. Any issues like that will be best managed under private tuition. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard the below example happen to someone.
Person A has a sore back, they don’t really know what or how it happened but it’s constantly bothering them.
Person A talks to their mate, Person B, about it and Person B says ‘oh, I had a sore back too, then I started Pilates and it cured it!’.
So Person A starts looking into Pilates classes and Googles a place near them that has 20 reformer beds and a great introductory offer of $50 a month and come as many times in that month as you can.
So they do, but it’s not working, their back is not cured, in fact, it’s worse. Person A’s back is now worse off than when they started!
What failed to happen in the above situation is that Person B does private pilates, but didn’t mention that to Person A, and because Person A doesn't know any better, they just thought all Pilates is created equally. And it’s not. So now Person A not only has a worse off back, but they blame Pilates for it and we all know how far bad word of mouth travels.
Standard 2: Have you had some experience with Pilates (or even Yoga)?
If yes, great, coz it’s kinda like riding a bike. Well sorta… you might not be as match fit anymore, but you remember how to lift your public bone to your navel, even if it’s a bit harder to do these days.
Now I realise Pilates and Yoga are two different movement modalities, but there really is a lot of interchangeable cueing that goes on. Like the one above, ‘zipping public to navel’, I hear it in both Yoga and Pilates, because in both it achieves the same thing, an anterior tilt of the pelvis. Side note- this is not to say we all need to go around tipping our pelvis back, no no, in fact, in a lot of people it will be the opposite. But a good Pilates teacher will tell you what to be doing with your pelvis.
If you answered yes to both of the above, then go for it, get your group on!
If you answered no to any of the above, it doesn’t mean you can’t ever join group classes, it just means that for now, there might be a better way to experience the benefits of PIlates.
I have had clients in the past who have done anywhere from 5-20 private sessions with me and then moved onto a group class option. It’s a great way to learn the exercises, adapted to your specific body. That way, during group classes, you can feel confident to either sit out exercises not suited for you, modify the exercise so that it does suit you, or pick something else that you know does suit you. It’s an empowering feeling when you make those decisions for yourself.
Remember, in a group class, the ratio of teacher to student is heavily favoured to the student. The teacher doesn’t have time to come around to every single person and construct the class for individuals, but what they can do, is teach a fabulous class to the average Joe.
It’s up to you, as Joe, to make that class work for you. Like I always say at the beginning of a big group session, ‘I might be the boss of this class, but I am not the boss of your body, only you can be the boss of how it moves’.
How to Sign Up For Group Classes
So if you’re read the above and are a good candidate for group classes, I’m currently running a face to face group class in Moorabbin, Melbourne, on Friday mornings, or a virtual group class on Saturday mornings. You can book your spot here.
I’m also big on Pilates events! At my events, you can do some Pilates with your mates, enjoy some me time, learn a thing or two about how to better look after your body, then socialise with me over a couple of classes of wine and some nibbles. To be the first to know about my events, input your email below!