Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Health and Fitness

3 of our favorite beginner-friendly pilates moves

You can feel the burn with these 3 pilates moves, we promise

BethAnn Mayer
By
a man holding a green yoga mat
Mikhail Nilov/Pexels / Pexels

Do you think Pilates is something for Los Angeles and Hamptons socialites? Think twice. Joseph Pilates developed the workout in the early 20th century to help injured dancers. Over the years, the activity has grown a reputation for being a celebrity favorite, with everyone from David Beckham to Kendall Jenner apparently swearing by Pilates. Studio memberships with classes can undoubtedly cost a pretty penny.

Don’t judge exercises by their famous clientele, though. Apps like Peloton and even free videos on YouTube have broken down barriers, making Pilates more accessible than ever. That’s good. Pilates offers a full-body workout but specifically targets the core and focuses on breathing, making the exercises good for the body and mind.

Recommended Videos

The exercises can improve balance, posture, and mobility while teaching the muscles to move in new ways — a must when trying to prevent injuries. Plus, a strong core is vital for other physical activities, like running.

Related

Ready to give Pilates a try? These beginner-friendly moves may humble you (in a good way).

man doing supine twist
Kampus Production/Pexels / Pexels

3 equipment-free Pilates move even a beginner can nail

If you’re new to Pilates, starting slow is a good idea. The exercises may not look like much, but they require precise movements for the best benefits. You may also be surprised to feel the burn as you work through each move.

Leg circles

Works: Core, hips, quads, and hamstrings

  1. Lie flat on your back on a yoga mat.
  2. Pull your belly button toward your spine to engage the abs.
  3. Inhale and extend the right leg straight toward the ceiling, forming a right angle with your body. The left leg should remain extended in front of you on the floor.
  4. Begin drawing a circle with your toes. How large your circle is will depend on your mobility. You may be able to extend the leg in a large, sweeping circle, feeling your heel graze on the floor. You may draw a salad-plate-sized bowl circle on the ceiling. The goal is for your hips to remain stable the entire time. If your hips move, you’ve gone too far.
  5. Draw 10 circles.
  6. Repeat on the opposite side.

Hundreds

Works: Core

  1. Lie on your back.
  2. Lift your legs, bending them at a 90-degree angle so that shins are parallel with the floor. Inhale.
  3. Exhale as you lift your head and shoulder blades off the floor.
  4. Curve the abs in so they appear “scooped.”
  5. Inhale, lifting your arms slightly so they’re parallel with the floor and low. You can extend the legs for the full version, but beginners may benefit from keeping their knees in a tabletop position. Exhale.
  6. Inhale and exhale for five short breaths as if you are ever-so-slowly blowing out candles. As you breathe, pump your arms up and down about six inches in a quick but controlled motion.
  7. Repeat 10 times (hence hundreds — you’ll be doing 10 rounds of the five-inhale, five-exhale breath pattern).

Spine twist supine

Works: Obliques, glutes, and chest

  1. Lie on your mat with arms extended in a “T” position.
  2. Lift legs to a tabletop position.
  3. Inhale as you slowly lower your legs to the left. Only go as far as you can with your shoulder blades resting firmly on the floor — likely about one-quarter or one-half of the way down.
  4. Return to the starting position as you exhale.
  5. Repeat on the opposite side for one rep.
  6. Continue for 30 to 60 seconds.

Pilates is a fantastic core workout, including for people coming back from an injury. However, if you’ve been injured recently or have mobility issues, speak with a doctor.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
BethAnn Mayer
BethAnn Mayer
Contributor
Beth Ann's work has appeared on healthline.com and parents.com. In her spare time, you can find her running (either marathons…
New study says this is the best time of day to exercise if you want to lose weight
We sure hope you're a morning person
man holding weights outside

If you're struggling to lose weight or sleep better, changing the time of day you work out might help. A new study published in Obesity found the optimal time to exercise, even if you sit all day.

In this article, we'll break down the study findings and explain why the recommended workout time benefits weight loss.

Read more
Burn fat while gaining muscle: Weight training for weight loss
Believe it or not, you can lose weight by gaining muscle. Here's how to do it
Lifting weights with spotter

If you desire to lose weight, you are not alone. Many people have a similar goal and are aware that exercise is a great way to make it happen. But should you choose cardio or weight lifting for weight loss? Or both?
While cardio exercises such as running, cycling, rowing, swimming, and stair climbing can all be great ways to burn calories, it's also possible to lose weight by lifting weights. If you tend to gravitate toward strength training more than cardio workouts but still want to lose weight, keep reading to learn how to lose weight through strength training.

Can you lose weight lifting weights?
One of the top weight loss tips that any health and fitness expert will recommend is to incorporate exercise into your weight loss program. Most people assume that this means cardio exercise rather than strength training, as it's somewhat counterintuitive that you can lose weight lifting weights. After all, the goal of strength training is often to build muscle mass, and if you're increasing your muscle mass, your body weight will increase. 
However, this assumption does not take into account that as long as you follow a healthy, calorie-controlled diet and do the right type of strength training workouts, you can burn calories through weightlifting workouts and lose weight at the same time.

Read more
8 reasons why a rowing machine needs to be part of your workout routine
These are the benefits of rowing you need to know
Man using rowing machine for fitness.

Treadmills, ellipticals, and exercise bikes are often many people's go-tos when it comes to cardio equipment. While these machines can certainly be effective, what about the benefits of rowing? Rowing allows you to strengthen your upper body, especially your back, while still challenging your cardiovascular system.
If you’re feeling stuck in a rut with your current fitness routine or are interested in taking on the most efficient and effective ways to get in shape, keep reading for a list of the benefits of rowing. Even if you’ve been hesitant to give rowing a try, you may just find yourself rethinking your next workout and swapping your run or spin class for a workout on the rowing machine.

Benefits of rowing
The benefits of rowing are extensive, spanning the gamut from improving cardiovascular fitness to achieving better posture. Here are some of the primary health benefits of rowing.

Read more