Whether you are new to doing pilates or you're already a well-seasoned pro, it's important to make sure that you are doing a healthy amount of pilates! If you do too much, you could risk hurting yourself. On the other side, doing too little isn't productive either. Don't worry - we've researched for you, and we have the answers to how long a Pilates session should be and how often you should do Pilates.

On average, each pilates session should range from about 45 minutes to one full hour. Pilates should be incorporated into a well-rounded fitness plan. If you are a beginner, do not try to do pilates every day, or you may run the risk of hurting yourself. It is best to start with two to three Pilates workouts a week, intending to work up to more workouts as your body adjusts.

Keep reading to learn more about what a healthy Pilates schedule looks like, and what time of day is best for this exercise. We'll also discuss the differences between Pilates and yoga, and how to incorporate cardio workouts within your weekly Pilates routine.

Ease Into Pilates

As with beginning any form of fitness, safety should always be a priority. It is essential to make sure that you are not doing Pilates too much initially, or you could face major health risks. Pilates is a form of exercise best practiced when you ease into it, rather than diving in head first!

If you are a true beginner, start with two to three Pilates workouts a week, leaving a few days of rest in between each work-out session. If you are more experienced, it is appropriate to step-up your sessions to four or five workouts a week. However, it is still important to make sure that you allow your body enough time to recover in-between each workout! A Pilates workout should never last more than one hour. If you are a beginner, consider starting with a 45-minute session and working your way up to the full hour.

Also, if you are practicing Pilates at home, you may be able to do a longer workout as you will probably be moving slower than you would if you are doing Pilates at a studio. Studio workouts tend to be much more intense than home workouts. It would be best if you planned accordingly to ensure that you are not pushing yourself too hard. If you find yourself overwhelmed at a home or studio workout, it is okay to take a break. If you are a beginner who wants to go to a studio, sign up for a beginner's class and work your way into the more advanced classes.

Best Time of Day For Pilates

Pilates is great at any time of the day! If you choose to do Pilates in the morning, it will help detox your body and wake you up. Pilates is a great way to start your day, and it will leave you feeling energetic! Make sure to eat a light breakfast and drink some water before your morning workout, as your body will need the energy.

Pilates is also great in the afternoon. If you're like me, you probably get sluggish around two o'clock in the afternoon. If so, pilates is a great way to take a break from work and recharge to finish your day. It will leave you feeling focused and ready to accomplish your goals for the evening.

Pilates might be even better in the evening, especially after a long day. There is no better way to recharge from a stressful day than by stretching out on the mat. However, you should aim to have a more relaxed workout if you are doing it in the evening. Save your high-energy and intense pilates workouts for the morning or afternoon. Too intense of a pilates workout in the evening could leave you feeling more stressed.

No matter what time of day you choose to do Pilates, make sure that you have eaten enough and are hydrated! Your body needs energy to fuel a healthy and productive workout session.

Benefits of Pilates

There are so many different benefits from adding Pilates into your exercise regimen! Pilates is known for helping improve mental health, chronic back pain, and posture. However, Pilates is also famous for helping people to lose weight.

Can You Lose Weight Doing Pilates Everyday?

First, it is important to note that you will not lose weight quickly with Pilates. It would help if you stuck with your exercise regimen for quite a bit of time before the weight loss will happen, but it will be life-changing once it does it. If you are looking to lose weight quicker, you may want to consider pairing your Pilates workouts with a form of cardio exercises, such as running, dancing, or swimming.

Can You Lose Belly Fat Doing Pilates?

Pilates works through strength training. It tones and develops your muscles, especially around your core, leading to a leaner and healthier body. This means that you will definitely lose belly fat by doing Pilates! While losing weight and toning-up are definitely benefits to doing Pilates, you'll soon see that pilates will make you a happier person overall. This improved mental health is definitely the best part of adding Pilates into your workout plan.

How Long Does It Take To See Results From Pilates?

Depending on your body type and how in-shape you already are, you may see progress from doing Pilates after just a few short weeks. This also depends on if you have combined your Pilates training with any other form of exercise. If you are consistently doing Pilates 3x a week and running 2x a week, you will be likely to see progress quicker than if you are only doing Pilates 2x a week and no other exercise. It is also very important to incorporate a healthy diet into this plan to see better results.

Pilates Vs. Yoga

Which is better, yoga or Pilates? This question is often debated within the exercise world, but the answer depends on the results that you are aiming for.

Both Pilates and yoga will help increase your happiness, flexibility, balance, posture, sleep, and muscle mass. However, yoga is seen as more of a meditative lifestyle, rather than just a workout. Yoga focuses on the union of the body and the mind, working to detox both. If your main concern is finding a form of exercise that makes you feel relaxed and at peace, yoga is the answer for you.

Pilates is definitely more of a traditional exercise than yoga. If you want to feel energized while building muscle at a quicker rate than yoga, Pilates is for you! Pilates also focuses specifically on the core, while yoga has more of a "total body" emphasis. Overall, both yoga and Pilates are amazing exercises and neither is better than the other, it just depends on what you want out of a workout!

Combine Pilates With HIIT

Many people who do HIIT also love to do Pilates. This combination of cardio and strength training is perfect for those who are looking to lose weight or to tone-up a bit. However, should you do Pilates before or after HIIT? Timing is so important!

In order to see the most progress, you should do Pilates before your HIIT or any other cardio workout. This is because you will use most of your energy in pilates, building the maximum amount of muscle. Then you will move on to HIIT (or other cardio) and your body will be forced to burn extra fat in order to make more energy to complete this challenging exercise. If you do HIIT first, you will be wasting energy and your body will not have enough energy left to reach full potential in your Pilates workout.

Final Thoughts

Pilates is an excellent form of exercise for increased flexibility, weight loss, and improved muscle tone. Make sure you ease into Pilates as a beginner and amp up the number of classes as your body improves. Pairing Pilates with other forms of exercise is a good way to see results more quickly. Remember to stay hydrated and maintain a balanced diet no matter what time of day you prefer for your Pilates workouts. And most of all, have fun!