How to Get Started with Pilates (Even if You "Hate" Exercise)
- Laura Bond Williams
- 17 hours ago
- 4 min read
I’ll be honest: I've taught a lot of people who came to Pilates as a last resort. They know they need to do something to keep moving, but they've always hated exercise. They don’t like going to gyms. They either went too hard and felt sore for days or got hurt; or they couldn't find something they liked that also felt like it was worth their time.
If that sounds like you, Pilates may be the exception. At Mat Pilates ATX, we focus on learning movement that supports your daily quality of life at home and work, keeps you engaged in your favorite pastimes —helping you move through the world and do what you love with less pain and more ease.
Group Classes or Private Studio: Finding Your Comfort Zone
The first decision is how you want to learn.
Group Classes (including Mat Pilates and Pumped Up Strength) are excellent if you want to learn alongside other people. My classes are "open level," which means I provide progressions and variations for exercises. You’ll learn to listen to your body and decide for yourself when to challenge your strength and when to take it easy. There’s no pressure to keep up with anyone else.
If you feel like you need someone telling you exactly what to do but have struggled to stick with exercise in the past -- an open level mat Pilates class becomes a lesson in community, autonomy, and self-trust. The result? Intrinsic motivation -- and you get to keep that forever.*
Private Appointments are the best choice if you want 1-on-1 attention. I've taught private clients for five weeks, preparing them for duets or reformer Pilates group class settings, and I've taught other private students for five+ years (and they are still learning new things). Private sessions are also ideal when you’re managing or recovering from an injury, want to work at a specific pace (this may be faster or slower than a group or duet), or want to learn a wide variety of Pilates exercises using different studio apparatus. The Pilates studio is a low-pressure environment designed entirely around you.
How to Schedule Your First Group Class
If you’re ready to try a group setting, I’ve made the process straightforward.
Get your free pass: Start by filling out this form. Once you do, I’ll add a free group class pass to your account.
Book your class: Go to my Booking Page and sign in as a returning client.
Select "Group Classes": You’ll see Mat Pilates and Pumped Up Strength on the schedule.
Both of these are also offered as live virtual classes via Zoom if you prefer to start from the comfort of your own home.
How to Get Started with Private Pilates
Private sessions are available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Because these depend on my current student schedule, the fastest way to see what’s available is to use the Booking Page. Click Book Now, then Studio Appointments, and then Private Pilates Session.
In a private session, we look at your specific habits—your work setup, your goals, and your experience level—to build a practice that actually works for your life.
How to Get Started with Duet Pilates Sessions
If you have a friend, partner, or colleague who also wants to start, a Duet is a great middle ground. You get a personalized workout that supports both of your goals at once.
You and your partner don’t need to be at the same fitness level to do this. You just need to agree that you’re learning together and bring some patience for yourselves as you figure out the movements.
Note: If you want to do duets but don’t have a partner yet, I recommend starting with private sessions first. This helps you build a foundation while we look for a partner with similar goals. Read more about Duet Reformer Pilates Sessions.
How to Set a Pilates Goal (Focus on How You Feel)
In Pilates, goals aren't usually quantitative (unless they are -- more on that below). Pilates goals are about skills, abilities, knowledge, and function. Many of my students start with personal goals like:
Increasing shoulder mobility and strength.
Reducing chronic back pain.
Strengthening feet and hips for better balance.
Others have broader goals: they want to feel better in their bodies, increase their core strength, or simply see how Pilates improves their daily stamina. Your goal can be as simple as "I want to move without pain."
So what's a quantitative goal in Pilates? Variety -- doing more, different exercises -- without increasing the length of your workout. The most advanced Pilates classes I take are often less than 30 minutes and may have 30+ exercises, each designed to support the next one. "Advanced Pilates" is not about repetition and volume; it's about how many ways we can use similar muscle groups without losing connection to our center. We acquire and apply new skills in Pilates: connecting breathing and movement, moving from our center, applying the right amount of effort and no more, because we practice the skill of controlling our bodies as they move.
Still have questions?
If you’re still wondering if this is the right fit for you, let’s talk. You can set up a free consultation call via the Booking Page. No pressure, just a quick chat to see how I can help you feel better.
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