Pilates has become extremely popular over the last few years, and it's no wonder. It has many wonderful health benefits and can be an effective rehabilitation method. It improves your posture, strengthens your core, relieves pain and much more.

While it is not hard to start on a program doing Pilates on your own, there are some criteria to note on your Pilates training journey.

No Injury or Existing Health Condition

If you have a prior existing health issue like bulging disc or suffer from chronic neck pain or similar, it is not advisable to start with doing Pilates on your own. You have to seek professional help in getting it looked at and resolved. Doing Pilates with pre health conditions put you at risk for further injury and pain. It is wise to consult professional help to be certain you are safe and are ready.

Clock 20 hours

You may ask why the need to invest in at least 20 hours of experience on Pilates machine like the reformer with a Pilates instructor before starting your DIY program? Without a good understanding and solid foundation on what Pilates is all about, it is like going on a trip not knowing where your destination is.

There are a number of important fundamentals that anyone new to Pilates need to understand in order to be effectively safe and see results. There are also certain terminologies to master and machine set up to learn. Once you've taken a few classes and are comfortable with how to use the equipment, you can start on your own. As you gain experience, you could also mix your routine up, and do the mat exercises at home, and the Pilates reformer exercises in the studio.

Be Disciplined & Consistent

Once you are ready to embark on DIY Pilates, plan your schedule to do at least 3 times in a week to achieve results. Research has proven anything less than this, allows for very slow progress. Learn to take responsibility in taking care of yourself in your journey for a strong and fitter body. Be disciplined and stay on track without distraction. Besides these, do condition your body and mind continuously to avoid side tracking. These are the 2 main reasons cited by most people when they failed.

Work with Professionals

It is a good idea to start Pilates DIY with a good Pilates instructor as it cuts down the possibility of making mistakes and doing the wrong things. Doing the wrong things from the start means you have to unlearn and re-learn. And some mistakes takes a long time to go away as it has becomes a bad habit by the time you are aware of it. Working with an instructor creates value in ensuring your program is customized accordingly to your needs. It is safe and effective. In the long run, you learn and pick up tips on the "how, what, where, when" etc. You become well informed. This knowledge makes it possible for you to have an "intelligent" body and mind.

DIY Pilates can be performed anywhere, both on mat and machine. The former is more portable and you can do it anywhere on a mat. A reformer is less flexible and may have to be used only in Pilates studios. It may seem intimidating at first; but once you get more confident with practice, it is easy and simple to use.