Opinion: I did pilates for 10 weeks and here are 10 changes I noticed

For the 10-week duration of spring quarter, I took mat pilates classes twice a week through UC Santa Barbara’s Recreation Center and the Associated Students Commission on Student Well Being’s workshops so I could report back on the changes I experienced, both physically and mentally. Pilates classes have been a popular trend as of recently, on the reformer, on the chair and, like these classes, on the mat. Here are 10 changes I noticed that affected my everyday lifestyle, and could affect yours next.

1. I accidentally became a morning person

As someone who tends to opt for the late-start classes, I found myself waking up much earlier, pretty consistently as the clock struck 7 every morning. Our internal biological clock is controlled by the circadian rhythm, a phenomenon in the body that tells you when to rest and be awake. Exercise, which increases the production of good hormones while reducing lower ones in the immune system, directly contributes to the nervous system, telling your body when to wake up and go to bed. Having this cycle reset to match the same hours as the sun can really improve the quality of one’s sleep. Even on days I didn’t go to class, I still stuck with that same newly developed schedule and felt much more alert throughout my early-bird days.

2. Hyper-attentive breathing

Breathing is the fundamental thing keeping us alive, hence being a very important technique to master. Pilates totally changed the way I breathed during sessions, in the gym and in my everyday movements. Even just riding my bike to class, every push of the pedal subconsciously lined up with my exhale, hence engaging my abs. I know this is such a little phenomena, but normally my legs get pretty tired from biking to class against the wind with a full backpack. Using my core for simple tasks like this one helped take that load off the rest of my body.

3. I “got taller”

I went from being 5 feet, 3 inches tall to a whopping 5 feet, 3 ½ inches tall. Crazy right? While it was really just a major improvement in my posture, I will take anything I can get. Pilates emphasizes length over flexibility, getting your legs and arms to reach new lengths which overtime will increase flexibility and posture. In reality, I have probably always been this tall, I have just been slouching. Posture is so important for your health, as overtime bad posture can limit mobility and even cause bone complications. Getting in the habit of good posture came easier to me during these weeks with pilates.

4. I went from sore to strong

I was incredibly sore the morning after my first session, and unlike a regular workout that targets one area, pilates targets everything which left me feeling nearly paralyzed. However, with consistency I adapted quickly and stopped feeling any soreness at all post-session. In fact, even when I did spend some time in the gym targeting legs or abs I still didn’t feel that regular soreness, since my whole body’s muscle strength was constantly being shaped.

5. Homemade stimulants

This observation was a little contradictory. After my Monday night sessions at 6, I found myself much calmer and had an easier time falling asleep. Conversely, after my 9 a.m. session on Wednesdays, I felt much more alert and concentrated throughout the rest of my day. Pilates not only helps with sleeping schedules, but the exercise and blood flow it supplies straight to the brain can act alternatively as an aid to staying consciously awake simultaneously. Not only was I able to stay awake, but I noticed I had a much easier time focusing in my classes.

6. Serotonin spikes

This was the one controversially negative connotation I noticed: the fluctuation of feeling great about myself to days I didn’t do anything drastically impacted my highs and lows to be even higher and even lower. Serotonin is a pathway for the happiness hormone, one that controls our mood and well-being. Doing activities that involve exercise, like pilates, can actually activate our internal neurological systems that boosts the production of that good feeling. Since these classes only took place twice a week, my off days felt even more sluggish than usual so I didn’t find it substantial enough on its own. Consistency is key, especially in controlling well-being, but finding the right amount and balance will depend on the person. For me, I supplemented by spending some time at the gym 3-4 days a week outside of sessions.

7. Fixed back pain

I didn’t even know that I had back pain until it was relieved. Does this make me old? As said before, pilates lengthens all parts of the body, stretching all the places you might not even think needed it. To me, a pilates workout was almost equivalent to a full body massage, as I would walk out of classes feeling relaxed, lighter and knot-free. Pilates targets your spinal support through its movements, both strengthening the muscle protecting the spine and redistributing the pressure surrounding it. With a more stable spine, the weight is taken off your back to relieve that built up tension.

8. I got loose

Exercise doesn’t need to be serious to be effective. A lot of pilates motions are meant to be silly, involving movements like “act like a seal” or “roll like a ball.” These classes totally challenged what I thought of as a traditional workout class, both physically and emotionally. I was able to fully let my body stretch, turn, twist in new ways that I’ve never stretched before. On top of that, I was able to fully let go of any social stigmas during such crazy movements and just let my body work to its full potential.

9. My mind worked harder than my body

I thought that pilates would totally change and tone my body, leaving me with the ability to do new party tricks, like breaking out into the splits or showing off my new six-pack. Maybe with more consistency and a longer duration, these classes could have done that, but most of the changes I endured were something I felt rather than saw. Even during classes, my heart rate never spiked nor did I run out of breath. Instead, these classes challenged my patience, my endurance and my perseverance, both on the mat and in my everyday life.

10. I got to be a pilates princess

The trending title of “pilates princess” is one that I’ve been jealous of for a while now, so of course I will take pride in calling myself it. This final point simply comes down to confidence. When you feel good about yourself, you can push yourself harder to try new things, persevere even when it’s difficult and feel proud of what you accomplish. I was actually really excited coming to pilates class each session, and in turn I got a lot more out of my experience than just another workout.

Overall, none of these observations were a benefit that came directly from pilates. They came from a consistent schedule to get my body moving and staying healthy in an active environment. Any workout can do this, it’s about finding the one that’s right for you and feels fun, which will motivate you to stick with it. Whether it’s pilates, sports, runs, gym sessions or any of the many types of exercise, I hope this reflection will encourage more people to get involved, get in tune with their bodies inside and out and maybe even try something new!