When pilates isn’t enough

Pilates is a powerful and valuable tool in any fitness plan, but sometimes, it alone isn't enough to reach your goals. Let’s look at some goals where it's only a piece of the puzzle, not the whole picture:

Building Muscle To truly build muscle and get that "toned" look, you need to progressively overload your muscles with heavier weights. This means picking up a dumbbell, a kettlebell, or a barbell.

Body Recomposition To truly change your body composition—adding muscle and losing fat—you need to lift heavier weights. I recommend a mix of strength training, a balanced diet, and some cardio to support fat loss.

You're trying to lose weight. For weight loss, a calorie deficit is key. While Pilates burns some calories, it's not a high-intensity cardio workout. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and strength training create a powerful recipe for lasting weight loss.

You're a woman over 40 who cares about your own well-being. As women age, we naturally start to lose muscle mass and bone density. Pilates is great for core and stability, but it often lacks the heavy load needed to stimulate new bone growth and preserve muscle mass. Lifting weights is one of the best things you can do to protect your bones and maintain a strong, healthy body as you get older.

My Pilates practice is my foundation. But on a weekly basis, I also do strength training and go running. I find this balance keeps me flexible, strong mentally and physically, and ready for whatever life throws at me.

Please keep doing your Pilates practice, but don't be afraid to challenge your body in new ways to truly reach your goals.