What exactly is Pilates? It’s a form of exercise developed in the early 1900’s by Joseph Pilates. He originally called it “Contrology,” which was done primarily on the floor. Mr. Pilates had been inspired by the Greek ideal of being balanced in body, mind and spirit and developed his system based on this. It is guided by the principles of breath, coordination, focus, centering, alignment and control. Throughout his lifetime, Pilates continued to innovate and evolve his practice. It continues to evolve today as more and more teachers and students add to the body of knowledge that supports healthy movement. Pilates is a form of exercise accessible to all types of bodies, from professional athletes to injured ones. Not sure if it’s really what it’s cracked up to be? Check out this article from the New York Times featuring our owner, Carrie A Lamb, titled “Is Pilates as good as everyone says?”

This is always a debate in the Pilates community and we now have a “classical” Pilates studio in town. It’s important to know the differences and make an informed decision about what feels right for you. Click here to read our recent blog post about this topic and feel free to reach out to us directly to learn more.

Make sure to wear clothes you are comfortable moving in. Because our equipment has lots of moving parts, make sure you are not in anything too baggy and avoid bracelets and necklaces that dangle and could potentially get caught. If you have long hair, make sure to have a hair tie to keep it contained during your workout.

This is such a great question and the answer is….it depends. What other types of exercise do you do? Are you training for a major event? Are you recovering from an injury? In general, Pilates is safe to do on a daily basis. A good rule of thumb is to think 2x/week to maintain and 3x/week to make gains.

One of the things we pride ourselves on the most is really understanding the needs of each individual client. While Pilates is a great way to exercise, it is not a one size fits all and we want to make sure we’re helping you make the most of your time with us. What we ask is that you schedule at least one private “get to know you” session with our team to talk about your goals, get oriented to the studio, and check that you understand some basic safety on our equipment. If, after that first meeting, you and the instructor decide you are ready to jump into classes - YAY! We are happy to welcome you in. If you feel like you’d like a few more privates we can make that happen too!

Great! We’d love for you to give us a try! We’re happy to have you drop in to a class. Register as a drop in through Wellness Living but make sure to arrive a few minutes early to talk with your instructor. After class, the two of you can discuss the best path forward.

Knowing whether you’re a beginner/intermediate or intermediate/advanced Pilates student isn’t always straightforward. You’re strong, active, and capable… but Pilates is its own language so we’ve created a quick guide to help you find the best fit for your goals, your experience, and your body.

No matter where you land, our contemporary approach means every class is thoughtfully designed to challenge and support you, with plenty of options to meet you right where you are and our instructors are incredible resources to help you decide which classes may be the best fit.

Beginner/Intermediate

This level is a great if:

• You’re newer to Pilates or it’s been a while since you practiced regularly

• You’re still learning key concepts like breath, alignment, and core activation

• You want to build strength and control in a way that supports your active lifestyle and prevents injury

• You prefer a slower pace with more instruction and time to focus on technique

• You want to explore all of the equipment such as the chair, tower, and step barrel and gain confidence in working on those. 

• You’re recovering from an injury, managing a chronic issue, or simply want a more mindful approach to movement

• You need modifications because of an injury or specific health condition
  
  

You’ll leave feeling strong, connected, and more confident in your movement—ready to take on your favorite outdoor adventures and everyday life with ease. 

Intermediate/Advanced

This level is for you if:

• You have a solid Pilates foundation and are comfortable using equipment like the Reformer, Tower, or Chair

• You’re familiar with Pilates terminology and can follow cues without too much explanation

• You know your body and are comfortable making choices and modifications as needed to support your goals

• You’re looking for a faster pace, more complex sequences, and deeper physical challenges

• You want to push your strength, flexibility, and coordination while fine-tuning your control

• You love cross-training and want your Pilates practice to support higher-level athletic or recreational goals
  
  

These classes will move. You’ll be encouraged to explore your edge while still honoring what your body needs on any given day.

Still not sure?
No problem.  If you are a current student, our instructors are here to help.  Chat with one of them after class and see what they say.  Even better, schedule a 1:1 session to help your teacher identify specific skills you may need support with. 

If you are a new student, our introductory Getting Connected programs were developed to help new students get some 1:1 assistance as they dive into the world of Pilates and for us to get to know your individual needs.  As you work with our team, we will help make recommendations on the right class level for you.  Our primary goal is to help you have a positive and challenging movement experience that keeps you safe and helps you build the skills you need to achieve your goals.

Welcome to Golden! We love having visitors to the studio. Please give us a call at 303-993-2237 and we can get you set up in a class while you’re here! We also love sharing our inside knowledge of fun things to do around here so if you need any recommendations we’re happy to chat more!

Since back “pain” is not a single entity this question is hard to answer but gets asked a lot. Can Pilates make my spine more flexible - YES. Can Pilates help my spine get stronger - YES. Will Pilates help me learn how to support my spine better - ABSOLUTELY! Oftentimes, these outcomes do results in a decrease in pain but sometimes that is not the case. Our physical therapists are experts and helping you sort out what you need and making recommendations on the right type of exercise for your specific issues. Give us a call today to set up a consultation to explore whether Pilates-based exercise is the answer you’ve been looking for.

Hmm, not directly unfortunately. Bone density responds to stress and Pilates, by design, is considered low-impact vs high impact. Activities like jumping, lifting weights, and walking have a greater direct impact on bone density but Pilates can help you do all those things better. We know it’s a bit of a gray area and some things depend on you individual tests and scores. Give us a call if you’d like to chat with one of our knowledgeable physical therapists who can help steer you in the right direction.