Pilates

Well I never.

http://images- eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000057BCX.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

don't believe the hype!! pilates = fancy word for "soviet calisthenics"

That would be "german calisthenics," thankyouverymuch.

I just started a series of classes (had a previous round two years ago), and would recommend them if you can find a good teacher. (The one who looked down at my butt/bum and giggled was not.) It could be described as "yoga without the metaphysics."

Lady SpeedStik controls the funk 24-7 hours a dizzay!!!

My sister tells me Pilates would do me good in terms of loosening my aching muscles and making me more supple.

Can someone who's done it/still does it tell me how it works and opine whether it'd be any good for a 32-year-old hugely unfit stone-overweight bloke?

Also, how much should I expect to pay? Good places to do it in London please!

(I've done Ayengar yoga before and really loved it but just fell out of the habit years back.)

also, is it mainly full of wimmin and will i get laughed at? just checkin'!

i don't know, what kind of outfit do you plan on wearing?

flippers and a tutu is normal, right?

I do pilates in a studio three times a week. Start with a buncha mat classes. They're usually cheaper than reformer classes, and they provide a good foundation for any future machine work. I'm in the States, and I pay $165 for a package of 5 mat classes and 5 reformer classes.

Don't wear shorts.

that's quite a lot of money isn't it? i mean, i have nothing to compare it to, but i surt of thought it's be cheap like say swimming.

that's $16.50/£8ish per class. i don't think that you'll find courses in a private studio for much less than that.

(not saying that's cheap, mind you. that's the reason that i do classes through my gym and not with a studio.)

A quick google search shows that it's much more expensive in London.

Here's what I'd do: shell out for a bunch a mat classes and maybe a private class or two. Once you've got the fundamentals down, buy a DVD and do it at home. Pop over to your studio a few times a year to refresh and brush up.

I do a lot of my matwork at home this way, and I go to the studio primarily for the machines.

See if your gym or local recreation center has some classes, too.

Don't wear shorts.

More on this please. I sense lulzaplenty...

i assumed that was just general life advice.

When you start pilates it's infuriating because you have to do tiny movements repeatedly until you get them exactly right and are ready to move on to a slightly less tiny repeated movement. It doesn't have to be expensive: I'm a member of my uni gym, which costs £12.50 a month and classes are included.

When performing pilates moves, oftentimes one's legs are spread or held aloft or both. If you wear shorts, you risk accidental exposure and no one wants to see your balls. Stick with the longer workout pants (trousers)!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/17/oil-tanker-pirates

So I just did a search for pilates so I could prod some advice out of ILX... and found I'd asked pretty much exactly the same question I was about to pose, 10 months ago!

So, here we are again. 2009 Pilates tips for London pls. Anyone? I will not wear shorts, don't worry!