Here’s your regular reminder that, when it comes to workouts, low-impact does not always equal easy. If you need proof, just try a Pilates workout. One swift bodyweight flow or teaser series later, and you’ll be feeling strong, exhausted, and hooked.
While many Pilates studios use a reformer in workouts, you can also score all the benefits of Pilates — including a stronger core, improved flexibility, and better posture — at home with next to no equipment. Mat Pilates classes require nothing but your body and a mat or some comfy floor, and they’re often the perfect type of Pilates workout for beginners new to the practice. (If you really want to simulate the reformer experience, there are plenty of creative ways to do reformer Pilates at home without a reformer.)
If you’re looking for a Pilates workout for beginners, there’s no better place to start than YouTube. These at-home routines are totally free to stream, mostly equipment free, and accessible for every level. Cue one of these YouTube Pilates workouts — including a few from our POPSUGAR Fitness Youtube Channel — up on your computer, smartphone, or TV, and you’re just a few seconds away from a better mind-body connection. Try one now and thank us later.
— Additional reporting by Lauren Mazzo