Pilates instructors are passionate about movement. It's often not just a job, but an important pillar of taking care of themselves. But while you might assume that teaching Pilates comes with a built-in personal practice, they're juggling full schedules, family, and life like everyone else.
Like a lot of our members, our PPF instructors use our online studio (PPF Online) to find a workout that fits their schedule and mood. We know that when life gets busy, exercise can be one of the first things to drop, even when we love it! So we've asked six of our instructors when they fit in exercise, and what actually makes the routine stick.
Cassie
When do you find time to move?
I love doing an online mat Pilates class first thing in the morning before anyone else in my house wakes up. This way I can focus on my breath and bring my awareness into the muscles I need for each exercise with zero distractions… Meditation in movement form!
What's your go-to on PPF Online?
I love an at-home core and upper body burn via mat Pilates. It requires so much of your own strength and stabilisers vs. being supported by straps or a footbar. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a reformer instructor, and I love it, but mat Pilates is definitely underrated!
Zoe
When do you find time to move?
I prefer to move my body in the late morning (as I’m usually fully awake by then 😂). I also feel like my morning clients inspire me to move my body after my morning shifts! Got to practice what I preach!
What's your go-to on PPF Online?
I love matwork flows the best as they are so accessible from home, and I love how effective they are. Matwork was my first introduction to Pilates many, many years ago, and I honestly just love laying on the floor haha!
Lucy
When do you find time to move?
I love to fit in a workout in the middle of the day, as you’ll often find me teaching at the studio in the morning and afternoon. I love that PPF Online has different-length workouts, so even if I have a busy day, I can still fit in an amazing workout!
What's your go-to on PPF Online?
I love doing matwork classes. I can’t always attend classes by some of my favourite instructors, so it’s really great that I can do some of their classes from home!
Eva
When do you find time to move?
I try to exercise on a daily basis and strongly believe that even 20 min of workout is better than none. The best time for me to exercise is mid-morning or early afternoons when my energy levels are high, and I can go all out. On days I can’t fit my gym sessions in, the PPF online studio perfectly fills the gap.
What's your go-to on PPF Online?
I love the variety of 20-30 min classes and try them all! My personal favourite workouts are any core or booty workouts, on a daily basis.
Emily
When do you find time to move?
Often during the middle of the day, before lunch, when I need a break from sitting at my desk! It’s so useful having the PPF Online workouts, as I get my workout in without leaving the house.
What's your go-to on PPF Online?
I love them all: a stretch class to calm me down before bed, a barre or HIIT workout to get my blood pumping, and a reformer session to assist with class planning for the week ahead. My absolute favourite of all would be a mat workout. When it’s just you and your mat (occasionally a pet or a kid comes in), magic happens with core activation and whole body alignment.
Cassandra
When do you find time to move?
I like to work out late in the morning because i'm 100% not a morning person! Or in the afternoons if I'm not working.
What's your go-to on PPF Online?
My favourite PPF Online classes are full body mat flows that include props so I feel like I'm working every part of my body. I also like the stretch and flow classes for a post run stretch.
The Common Thread
With different lifestyles and routines, the biggest thing that stands out across all instructors is the intentionality of fitting movement into their schedule as a non-negotiable. Even a short workout is worth doing, not just for the exercise benefits, but as a moment to connect with their body and an act of self-care. And the sneaky favourite of most of our instructors was the humble matwork class, with five out of six instructors preferring the challenge of full-body stability or the ease of grabbing your mat and getting straight into it.
If any of their routines resonated with you, PPF Online can help you move, whatever your schedule looks like.
