This month’s Pilates insights are courtesy of Vee, our Pilates + Development Manager and Instructor here at Scout.

Oh, beloved Pilates, my savior, my muse.
My favorite way to move is on the reformer using different spring options and props (like the ring) and probably to challenge my body and mind.
For all of us Scout fans, exercising regularly is an absolute must for maintaining good health and well-being.
Pilates focuses on centering and aligning the body before moving it. Movement is fluent and precise, it makes our physical body stronger, our minds sharper, and improves our overall quality of life. Let’s all remember how tough those first few classes were, isn’t it amazing to see and feel how our muscles change and our movement patterns improve?

But there comes a point where we all ask ourselves “Is my exercise routine still effective, am I still challenged?” It might be time to move up in the Pilates world, beautiful people. And with a studio like Scout, you have a lot of opportunities to do so and to create new goals and different ways to make progress along your fitness journey continuously.

What are the signs for you to try something a bit different?

You're no longer challenged - if your current exercise routine has become easy and you no longer feel challenged, it may be time to level up. When your body adapts to a certain level of exercise, it becomes less efficient, and you may stop seeing the same results as when you first started Pilates.
You're plateauing - if you've hit a plateau in your fitness progress, where you're no longer seeing improvements in your strength, endurance, or body composition, it may be a sign that your exercise routine needs a boost. Our bodies are designed to adapt to stress, so changing up your routine can help stimulate new muscle growth and increase fitness gains.
You're getting bored - if you find yourself dreading your workouts or feeling bored and unmotivated with your routine. Doing the same exercises over and over again can become monotonous and lead to a loss of motivation. Trying new exercises or adding variety to your class schedule can reignite your interest and keep you motivated to continue exercising regularly.
You have fitness goals - if you have specific goals, such as running a marathon, or building muscle and your current routine is not helping you progress towards those goals, it's time to level up. Tailoring your exercise routine to align with your goals can help you stay focused and motivated.
You've gained more experience - as you gain more experience and become more proficient in your workouts. You have mastered the fundamental art and technique of Pilates and can now challenge yourself with more advanced variations or different class styles. It's important to continually challenge yourself to avoid complacency and continue making progress.

Why Should You Level Up Your Exercise Routine?

Avoid plateauing - as mentioned earlier, our bodies adapt to stress, and after a while, your regular Essentials class may not be challenging enough to stimulate further improvements. Leveling up your exercise routine by trying our Circuit or Elevate classes to change the intensity or complexity of your workouts can help you overcome plateaus.
Prevent boredom - boredom is a common reason why people stop exercising or lose motivation. By leveling up your exercise routine you can add variety and excitement to your Pilates sessions, making them more enjoyable and helping you stay committed to your practice.
Achieve specific goals - if you have specific fitness goals, such as improving your performance in a sport or getting in shape for your brother's wedding in a German castle, it's important to adjust your exercise routine accordingly to help you target the specific areas you want to improve and increase your chances of achieving your goals.
Challenge yourself - physically and mentally is crucial for personal growth and development. Spicing up your routine allows you to push your limits, step out of your comfort zone, and develop new skills and abilities. This will boost your confidence, self-esteem, and overall well-being.
Prevent complacency - our bodies are designed to adapt, and doing the same exercises or routines repeatedly can lead to complacency.
To always thrive for more- more strength, more endorphins firing, more health, and with that more fun in life.

How Should You Level Up Your Exercise Routine?

Here at Scout P&Y we have a huge variety of class styles and levels. We pride ourselves on our extensive class menu and love being able to cater to every single one of YOU.

Recognizing the signs of when it's time to level up and, understanding the benefits, and implementing strategies such as increasing intensity, trying new class styles and changing up your routine.

Our Reformer Essentials as well as our Mat Contour & Condition sessions will teach you the fundamentals of the Pilates technique, its exercises, principles and benefits.

Our Reformer Elevate will take you to an intermediate/ advanced level of your practice. Incorporating more complex exercises, spring options, and movement challenges.

Why not try one of our Barre Burn sessions and be wowed by the mix of ballet, dance, and pilates workout?

Get into our Power Jump, Reformer Circuit or Barre Cardio classes to implement high-intensity training and to get your heart rate pumping. Our heart is our most crucial muscle and also needs to work out to stay healthy and to keep pumping blood through our veins.

Do not hesitate or be intimidated to try these fun and spicy sessions, all of our instructors are beyond professional and dedicated to helping and modifying for you in an exceptional manner. Together WE will achieve YOUR fitness goals... and so much more. Remember to listen to your body, progress at your own pace, and enjoy the process of challenging yourself and becoming a stronger, healthier version of yourself.

One of my daily affirmations to finish this love letter:

“I am in no competition with anyone, I run my own race. I have no desire of being better than anyone, in any shape or form. I focus on improvement, to be a better version of myself than I was yesterday.”

With love, Vee x

How and when to level up your Pilates practice