Should You Add Strength Training to Your Pilates Routine?
If you love your Pilates routine, we’re not about to tell you to change what’s already working.
Reformer Pilates is one of the best ways to improve core strength, mobility, posture, balance, and overall body awareness. If you’re happy with your progress and consistently seeing results, keep doing what you’re doing.
However, if you’ve been taking Pilates classes for years and feel like your progress has plateaued, adding strength training may be exactly what your body needs.
Why Pilates Alone May Not Be Enough
As we become more experienced with exercise, our bodies adapt. While Reformer Pilates continues to provide incredible benefits, adding progressive resistance through strength training can help you build muscle, increase bone density, improve metabolism, and continue making measurable progress.
The good news? You don’t necessarily need to add hours of extra workouts to your week.
Meet PILATES x STRENGTH
Enter Fit All Year Round and our PILATES x STRENGTH classes.
Offered multiple times each week, Pilates x Strength combines 15 minutes of Reformer Pilates with 35 minutes of strength training circuits for a workout that builds strength while maintaining the mobility, control, and core connection Pilates is known for.
This combination is actually Jaclyn’s ideal workout because it delivers the best of both worlds in a single class.
View the class schedule
Who Is Pilates x Strength For?
PILATES x STRENGTH is a great fit for:
- Clients who are short on time and want one efficient workout
- Reformer Pilates clients looking to build more muscle
- Strength training clients who want to improve mobility and movement quality
- Anyone looking for a balanced approach to fitness
If you love Pilates but know you should be incorporating more strength training, this class was designed for you.
If You Have Time for Separate Workouts
Have time to fit both into your weekly routine?
Continue attending your regular Reformer Pilates classes and add 2 days of Strength 50 classes each week.
A simple weekly schedule might look like:
- Monday: STRENGTH 50
- Tuesday: Reformer Pilates
- Wednesday: Reformer Pilates or Rest
- Thursday: STRENGTH 50
- Friday: Reformer Pilates
Try not to schedule STRENGTH 50 classes on back-to-back days whenever possible. Your muscles need time to recover and rebuild between strength workouts.
Why Pilates Is the Perfect Recovery Workout
One of the biggest benefits of combining Pilates and Strength Training is how well they complement each other.
When we strength train, we create tiny tears in our muscle fibers. This is a normal part of the muscle-building process. How we recover from those workouts plays a major role in how strong we become.
Pilates following a Strength 50 class is the perfect form of active recovery. Reformer Pilates pumps the muscles, stretches and mobilizes the joints, and helps increase circulation throughout the body.
Think of it as helping your body clear out the byproducts that contribute to muscle soreness. In turn, many clients find they feel better faster, recover sooner, and are ready for their next workout sooner.
Don’t Overcomplicate It
You don’t need a complicated fitness plan.
For most people, a great goal is:
- 2 Strength workouts per week
- 2–3 Reformer Pilates workouts per week
Or, if you’re short on time, incorporate PILATES x STRENGTH classes into your schedule.
Consistency matters far more than perfection.
If your schedule and budget allow, an Unlimited Membership is often the easiest way to build a balanced routine that includes Reformer Pilates, Strength 50, and Pilates x Strength classes throughout the week.
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you’re looking to build strength, improve mobility, break through a plateau, or simply feel stronger in your everyday life, we’re here to help.
New to group classes? Start with our First Group Class offer and experience Reformer Pilates, Strength 50, or Pilates x Strength for yourself.
If you’re completely new to Pilates or Strength Training, consider beginning with a First Private Session. Private sessions allow you to learn proper form, understand equipment settings, and receive personalized guidance before joining group classes.
Need help deciding which option is right for you? Schedule a Consultation and we’ll help create a plan based on your goals, experience level, and schedule.
