Ask a Pilates Instructor, With Good Times Pilates Founder Cat Webb

There are very few hard and fast rules when it comes to Pilates, says Cat Webb. According to the Good Times Pilates founder, you can practise as often as you like, push as hard as you want and take a chill approach when needed. It’s all good.

Pilates should be “a celebration of what your body is capable of”, Webb tells Broadsheet. And while there are no strict guidelines, she still has plenty of wisdom to share with Pilates devotees, from absolute beginners to old hands on the mat and machine.

Since launching Melbourne’s Good Times Pilates in 2018, Webb now has three studio spaces across the inner north (in Fitzroy, Northcote and Brunswick) and a reputation for encouraging inclusive, community-focused movement.

Here are her answers to some of our Pilates FAQs.

How often should I do Pilates?

As often as you like. As often as you can fit into your schedule. We have people who come once a week. We have people who come seven times a week. In my personal practice, sometimes I go three times a week. Sometimes I go five. Sometimes I go one. Any movement is better than no movement, and trying to reframe that without causing negative self-talk is the hardest part for a lot of people. There’s no right and wrong.

What are the benefits of Pilates? What can we expect from our workouts?

Once you’ve been doing Pilates for a while, you should be feeling stronger – more connected to and in control of your body and movements. Because we do Pilates in bare feet or socks, we’re able to really strengthen the muscles in our feet, ankles, knees and hips. It helps a lot with balance, which is great.

You’ll have more physical endurance and be able to perform daily tasks with more energy. Over the long term it increases longevity (that’s the number one benefit for me), plus you’ll sleep better. We do a lot of functional movements in Pilates – like squats, planks and push-ups – and also you get to stretch your muscles, so that helps with mobility and flexibility. You’ll be able to move more fluidly and without feeling as stiff.

There’s also mental wellbeing through mindfulness and knowing you can do hard things: pushing past limits (perceived or actual) to gain more resilience.

What’s the difference between mat and reformer – and who should be doing what?

The most important thing to say about any of this is that doing any movement or any Pilates is better than doing no movement or no Pilates – and you should be doing what you enjoy.

But the difference between the two? Joseph Pilates created the mat sequence first – it’s a very specific sequence of 34 exercises. (Somebody else added a few more later.) You do it on the floor on a mat with minimal to no equipment. There might be hand weights, Pilates balls, Pilates rings, things like that, but mainly you’re using your own body weight.

Reformer is on the reformer machine, which works on springs. And there are quite a few additions for progressions or modifications. You’re working with resistance, and there are different levels of tension you can add or take away to make things heavier or lighter. For different exercises, it doesn’t necessarily mean easier or harder. It just means different body weights need different loads and different moves.

Do I need to wear expensive leggings?

You definitely don’t. Wear whatever is comfy, wear whatever makes you feel like you can move freely. Shorts, track pants and parachute pants work well (you can tie them at the ankles so they don’t fall down). There are really affordable activewear brands out there now, like Target or Cotton On Body. And lots of cool lounge-y fitness wear that isn’t leggings from brands like Pinky and Kamal, Puma, Deiji Studios, and even Assembly Label.

Also just remember: what you see on Instagram and Tik Tok is not real Pilates. Whatever is going on there in terms of what people are wearing or what exercises they’re doing, that’s not what it’s like to go to a real-life human Pilates class.

Any tips for newcomers?

Make sure that you come in and introduce yourself to the teacher. Knowing your name is really great, because then we can give you specific cues and support from across the room. We can call you out and say, “Cat, try this,” or “Cat, move your knee a little bit.” It makes it much easier for us to be able to elevate your movement experience.

Also – set yourself up towards the front and middle of the room. You’ll have all the people around you and you can check to see what they’re doing if you don’t hear the instructions, or don’t understand what is meant to be happening. You can follow along more easily.

And leave your phone in the locker! Your workout time is not Instagram or texting time, it is you time. And it’s nice to take it as screen-free time as much as you can.

Can I do Pilates when I’m sick or injured?

Some injuries or movement restrictions are fine. If you’ve gone to a physio or an allied health professional and they’ve told you that you can go back to group classes, then just tell your teacher beforehand. It’s always easy to modify for people, it just depends on the level of injury and the level of restriction.

And it’s not always injuries. Sometimes we have clients who are hard of seeing or hard of hearing. We have clients who can’t be on certain machines because they’re too bright or too dark, or they’re close to the speaker, and they just get sensory overload. Letting your teacher know beforehand is the best way to have the best experience.

If it’s something where you probably need to go to a physio or an osteo or other allied health professional, then get them to write some notes for the teacher. You can always email the studio and ask if it’s a good time to come back to group classes. Otherwise, there are private classes or physio classes or more clinical Pilates that might work.

Should I take time off training for holidays (and how do I come back afterwards)?

I don’t think there’s a right or wrong. Usually during the holidays we’re chilling out more, we’re eating more, we’re socialising more, and we’re probably gaining in other ways. It’s a lot to do with how you frame it in your own mind. It’s like: I am doing this nice thing for myself, and I am seeking pleasure and enjoyment in doing different things at this time in my life. If you're not exercising as regularly as you normally would, you’re getting more out of life in other ways, and that’s really beneficial for your mental wellbeing and your physical wellbeing too.

After a break, depending on exactly how long it was, it might feel a bit more challenging when you come back to class. Give yourself a little bit of time and space to get back into your regular routine. Give yourself a bit of a grace period.

Access will hold an exclusive rooftop workout session with Good Times Pilates on Saturday December 6, featuring a free al fresco Pilates class as well as treats from Baker Bleu, drinks from San Pellegrino, and a special wellness gift bag. For more invites to events like this one, join Broadsheet Access today. It’s only $12 a month.