Yep, Pilates is hard (or can be!).

Well,Pilates workoutscan be as hard or as easy as you want them to be.

And once youve reached that advanced stage, things getreallyfun.

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Aside from putting your muscle strength to the test, they also test your balance and control.

It became popular with dancers at the time because it helped them improve their technique or recover from injury.

This offers more resistance than just your body weight.

Two young women practicing ballet with a teacher in the dance hall.

instructor atEast River Pilatesin New York City

Mat Pilates, on the other hand, is done on, you guessed it, a mat.

You use your body weight for resistance here.

What is Pilates good for?

Woman doing hip exercises

Yoga may offer better stress reduction while Pilates may offer more strength benefits, Well+Good previously reported.

The hardest Pilates moves, ranked

1.

How to do it:

2.

Cropped image of woman doing lunge yoga pose

Diagonal reach

This exercise requires a lot of balance to do correctly, so prepare to get shaky.

Swimming

The swimming exercise requires lower back, core, and glute strength to master.

Hip twist

Youll quickly discover how strong your core is with this exercise.

Woman in leggings and bra doing Lunge with Arm Extended Up pose hip opener stretch during yoga session in morning at home.

instructor atEast River Pilatesin New York City

Jackknife

The jackknife is ridiculously challenging, whether youre doing it on a reformer or your mat.

On a related note, always listen to your body, per Sun Rock Yoga.

Last, wearing the right clothing when doing Pilates is important.

Woman doing arm exercise without weights while sitting on mat at home.

Even if youre doing mat Pilates, these items may get in the way.

If you have long hair, tying it back for the same reasons is recommended.

Additionally, opt for grippy socks to avoid slipping during a move.

A woman in sports clothes does yoga or gymnastics at home. Daylight. She smiles

FAQ

1.

Is Pilates hard for beginners?

Pilates is low-impact and a great option for people of all fitness levels and abilities.

And, most importantly, give yourself grace as youre figuring things out.

Itll get easier over time.

What is the hardest part of Pilates?

While the answer may differ for everyone, there are a few commonPilates mistakes.

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