Over the past few years, Pilates has become one of my favorite workouts, just like it has for a lot of other women my age. Going to the studio twice a week with my thick yoga mat has kept me strong flexible and happy.I do my strength training and cycling workouts at home, but I don’t do Pilates very often at home. This month, though, my schedule is even busier than usual, so I’ve had to do Pilates at home for just 10 minutes every day.
I write a lot about how much or how little exercise we need to do to see changes in our bodies, and I thought that doing Pilates for just 10 minutes a day would help. After all, consistency is often more important than intensity.
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Twenty minutes of yoga is not too much. This simple routine helped me get stronger, more flexible, and more balanced overall.
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The good things that come from doing Pilates for 10 minutes every day
1. Stronger core muscles
Pilates is the only exercise that works my core the same way since I had three kids, my stomach muscles haven’t been the same, so my stomach is very important to me. I also have pain in my lower back, which is why I work to keep my core muscles strong as I get older. I don’t want this pain to get worse.
I always took a few minutes to wake up my core before each workout in Pilates, this isn’t hard because there are so many choices. The Hundred, the bird-dog exercise, the dead bug, the plank variations, and the teaser are some of my favorites.
Georgia Weibel a Pilates teacher and the founder of Sync With Georgia, says that one of the best things about doing Pilates for just 10 minutes is that it will make your core stronger, which will help you in your daily life whether you’re walking, lifting, shopping, or sitting at a desk.
2. Better posture
A lot of us sit at our desks for hours at a time, hunched over, and don’t move around enough. Georgia says that one of the benefits of a short Pilates workout is that within a week or two you’ll feel taller and less tense across your shoulders and neck. Your back and abdominal muscles get stronger when you focus on your core. This helps your posture and eases any aches and pains you may be feeling.
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Georgia also says that on a deeper level daily low-impact movement improves circulation and lymphatic flow which can help with that heavy sluggish feeling that many women get when they are stressed or sit for a long time.
3. Good for your mental health
You want to do something more if it makes you feel good inside and out. This is what happened to me during this Pilates challenge my husband said to me on the third day, You look very happy lying there, and he was right. I was happy. I was taking care of myself, moving my body, and getting stronger. Georgia says that even a small but meaningful commitment to yourself will make you feel more confident and trust yourself more.
I have always loved that as I get stronger and better at Pilates, I have to pay more attention to what I’m doing. The moves are harder now, which means my mind can’t think about the other things that stress me out, so it’s a great time to take a break from all the mental stress.
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Georgia says the breathing patterns used in Pilates help activate the nervous system which is the body’s way of calming down naturally. It can help you get out of fight or flight mode.
Emma Mahama a Pilates teacher who owns the Everybody Reformer studios in London says it also helps you feel more confident. You walk and act differently as you get stronger and more in touch with your body. This physical strength often leads to mental strength as well.
4. It never gets boring
I have never been bored doing Pilates, but some days it feels harder than others to go to an hour long class. I definitely couldn’t do one every day. The best part about doing Pilates for just 10 minutes is that you can change things up every day.
There were a few days when I was more tired, so I changed the moves to fit how my body felt. On days when I didn’t have much to do, I’d do slower moves like glute bridges and clams.
I also used the Peloton app to change things up even more. It has a lot of 10 minute classes, which makes it one of the best Pilates apps.
5. More motivation
Adding movement to your daily routine even for just 10 minutes will make you feel more energetic overall. This will then have an effect on other parts of your life.
Emma says Ten minutes lets you focus on the basics like breathing, alignment, and using the right muscles without feeling overwhelmed. Consistency is what really makes a difference.
6. It’s still a tough workout
I might have made it seem like doing Pilates for 10 minutes every day is an easy choice but I could feel every second of the 10 minutes on the mat.
I wanted every minute to count, so on days when I had more energy, I used hand weights to make my squats and bird-dog exercises harder.
Emma says that tools like this can help you get more out of your practice. It adds variety and a gradual challenge while still letting you keep your movements controlled and exact.
What I learned from doing Pilates for 10 minutes every day
I loved doing 10 minutes of Pilates every day so that’s the first thing I’ll say. You never regret working out and I never felt worse after my time on the mat.
I would feel more energized taller and happier when I got back to my desk. My hips were less tight and my core was stronger than before.
As I said before variety is important. Adding equipment when I was feeling more energized helped me stay motivated but it’s not necessary at all.
If you’re just starting out with Pilates 10 minutes a day is a great way to start.
Is 10 minutes of Pilates enough?
Yes I definitely saw changes after doing Pilates for 10 minutes every day. The benefits for my mind and posture came within days.
Georgia says for a lot of women especially those in their 30s and older shorter daily movement can be better for them than longer workouts.
Emma suggests trying longer classes either online or in person ideally 20 to 45 minutes when you can so you can work through the whole body.
The great thing about Pilates is that it can change with you over time.
