SPOT.ph Tries: Is a One-on-One Pilates Session Worth It?

(SPOT.ph) A woman magically forming a V-shape with her body, using her bottom as a vertex—this is the image you probably know of Pilates thanks to all the home exercise tapes that used to have this as the cover. Even if you're too young to know what we mean, we're sure you're at least familiar with this practice. Pilates has rightfully become more widespread in Metro Manila, with our fair share of studios peppered about, and if you happen to live in Makati, here's one you should know about: Disciplined Studio in Legazpi Village.

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Now, Pilates isn't exactly an exercise that one can just do at home. You can follow a YouTube video, but without training, there are chances you could be moving incorrectly. Still, there's also no denying that training sessions aren't exactly the most affordable thing in the world. Thus the question, what is it about pilates that people come back for? If you're yet to try it out yourself or are simply wondering what Pilates is all about, allow us to tell you about our trial of a private session at the Disciplined Studio to see whether one-on-ones with an instructor are worth it. Disclaimer: the author is not one you'll ever find at any gym, ever. We took on this class as someone with next to zero Pilates experience, but are on a path to getting healthier and stronger. If you can relate to any of that, Pilates is well worth looking into.

What is a private Pilates session like at Disciplined Studio in Makati?

For the unitiated, pilates is a form of low-impact exercise that relies heavily on your mind and body working together in complete focus. Developed in the 1900s by German physical trainer Joseph Pilates, it soon spread to places like the UK, the US, South Korea, and more—the Philippines included, of course. Unlike high-impact exercises, Pilates will have you going through series of motions, typically using equipment and machinery, to help stretch and strengthen your body. Practice might even help correct posture, our instructor during the session tells us.

Tucked away into the quiet halls of the OPL Building, Disciplined is a fairly larger, and freshly renovated studio. You'd be hard-pressed to find a studio in the Metro as complete in terms of equipment as this one. With a calming, minimal design and art all over, this place instantly calms the moment you step inside, a need for the focus that Pilates requires.

Disciplined is under Options Studio, which in turn is led by Ole Eugenio, a former gymnast and the first Filipino to become a certified trainer under Stott Pilates, a global company founded in the '80s. Disciplined first opened in 2021 in the same building. They've built up rapport with several regulars, and so the revamp and expansion was a logical next step to help keep those relationships and create even more. Add in the instructors putting you at ease and guiding you, plus the warm personnel, and we can see why clients come back.

You can choose between three types of classes at Disciplined: Beginner, Intermediate, or even Clinical. The first is for those who have never tried it before, or are coming back after a long while. You'll learn the basics of Pilates, and yes, get familiar with the different types of machines and even be more familiar with the way your body moves. Intermediate classes are for the more physically active who want to develop more control and enhance mobility. The last is what sets Disciplined apart as it is one of the rare places that have it; if you are experiencing physical pain or have a medical condition, Pilates could help you along to recovery. Note that you will need a medical certificate stating that you are cleared to take clinical Pilates classes. Plus, you can opt to go with a friend through a Duo session.

Reminders before starting! You don't need to buy fancy or specialized workout clothes to do Pilates. Just be sure to wear socks as you will be barefoot throughout; grip socks would be best to give you extra traction on the equipment. There is a locker and dressing area if you need to change, as well as a place to leave your shoes.

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We went for the private beginner class. Whatever type of session and class you take, you will have an instructor guiding you through the poses, movements and equipment. And a note: there are times the instructor will guide your body through the poses! My instructor gave me a crash course on Pilates at the start of the session, making sure that we understood what the goals were, and yup, how to get there. We first went through the basics: the usual Pilates position for the feet (heels together, toes apart), the straight back, and more. Then it was time to get on the machines.

The first one we tried was the classic Pilates equipment: the reformer. Disciplined even had one that was much like what the OG Pilates had developed; modern versions had some tweaks. The instructor took me through different motions to get me used to the movements, of course, and even the flow, or pace and rhythm, I should be aiming for. Using the reformer was a bit like doing crunches and stretches, only with weights and pulls. Difficulty for me, a non athlete, was very much okay.

The instructor then took me through at least three more machines around the studio, each one for a different set of exercises. What I noticed is that form really means more than the number of reps you can do, balanced out with keeping a flow so that your muscles really feel the burn. There were a lot of equipment-assisted exercises mainly to do with the core, which is where I really felt muscles moving where I didn't even know I had them before. All throughout, the instructor was thankfully gauging what I could and couldn't take, while making sure that I was doing things correctly and making the most of every movement.

At the end of the hour-long session, there was a feeling of relief, yes, but also a bit of shock that I was able to do what I did. I've done one or two HIIT exercises before, as well, and the aftermath of Pilates felt like a smoother, calmer let-down. There was no fatigue physically, and mentally, things felt clearer. I certainly wasn't suddenly Super Woman, but I sure could understand how Pilates, done right, makes you stronger.

The verdict on sessions at a Pilates studio: 

So, for P1,950 a private session, is Pilates worth it? I would say it depends. It will definitely work for those who are incapable of doing HIIT exercises and therefore need a way to build up strength non-strenuously; as with everything, though, don't expect results ASAP. A one-time session would be a great gauge as to whether this is the exercise for you. It's not a practice you would go into simply for fun; at it's price point, you have to be ready to commit to to get the most out of it. Pilates is a great way to get stronger through a regular routine, and if you find a studio near your home and with great people and setting, just like Disciplined, then it's worth a try.