Fitness review: Pilates Anytime for the win

Like Pilates and looking for a good online class in these COVID-19 times? You’re in luck, my friends. It’s our latest guest fitness review and I think you’re going to love it. Introducing, Pilates Anytime.

It took me awhile to get into Pilates, but these days I am a fan. Great for rehab, great for strength and sculpting, you can’t look past Pilates as a conditioning staple to improve overall range of movement and functionality in my opinion.

Dancers especially love Pilates and you can read why in one of my earlier reviews here. But Pilates isn’t an exercise system reserved for just one group. Anyone can do Pilates and the results will speak for themselves.

Meet, Steph. Originally from the UK, she’s a self-confessed cat lady, book worm, podcaster extraordinaire (check out Steph’s Business Bookshelf) and travel enthusiast who loves cooking for friends, and getting outside. She’s also an accredited Pilates and spin teacher but don’t let that sway your thoughts. Steph assures me you absolutely do not have to have a Pilates background to do Pilates and reap the benefits.

Steph got into Pilates after being diagnosed with a spinal fracture in 2016 that put a halt on her fitness routine of playing tennis. After completing a few sessions of clinical Pilates as part of rehab, she switched to reformer Pilates and it was love at first slide (*reformer joke there).

Steph loves to move, and her pre-COVID routine included spin classes and weights sessions alongside beach walking and Pilates classes. To keep up her Pilates fix during restrictions, she’s turned to Pilates Anytime as her online go-to.

The details

• App name – Pilates Anytime
• App cost – subscription AUD$22p/m or AUD$240p/year (they do a good unlimited intro offer and sometimes run specials)
• Where to download – Google Play or the App store
• Rundown of features – access to 3,400 high quality Pilates videos and instruction.  Endless filters for duration, equipment, difficulty level, body part focus or teacher.  They also offer programs which curates lessons for you.  Ability to download videos – AWESOME for travel.
• Which workout you use the app for – Pilates, stretching, barre

ATFG > What should someone expect?

One of the great things about Pilates Anytime is being able to filter the videos by duration.  If I’ve got 20 minutes while dinner is in the oven, I can get into a quick leg set.  And if I’ve given myself a luxurious 45-60 minutes of a morning, there’s plenty for me to choose from.

Unsurprisingly, the focus is Pilates so expect a whole-body workout that will especially burn your abs, shoulders, triceps, glutes and quads.  Again, the filter function allows you to pick an area of focus if you want to work something in particular (or avoid working your poor DOMS-ridden bum muscles two days in a row!).

ATFG > What are three helpful tips you can share to help someone get through a workout?

• Don’t worry about props.  There are LOTS of classes without any props/equipment but most* of them can be replaced or ignored.  It’s easy to think ‘oh I can’t do this class because I don’t have a magic circle’ and then stress yourself out trying to find equipment-free classes when actually the circle is only used for one exercise in 50 mins!  Therabands can be replaced by a long towel, circles and squishy balls replaced with a cushion, weights replaced with cans or bottles of water, or they can all be left out and you’ll still get a great workout.

*except the big things like reformers, Wunda Chairs, cadillacs etc!

• Try different teachers.  Naturally they all have different styles so you might find that Brett Howard’s controlled and strictly classical sequence is the solid workout you need or you might prefer Anula Maiberg’s super-relaxed but sneakily tough reps is more your cup of tea.  Love to incorporate cardio into your conditioning work?  Courtney Miller’s classes are for you.

• Listen.  There are cues all the way through the workouts on what to tuck and tighten, lower or lift.  These technique hints will help you get the most from your workout.  I would also recommend using the iPad app if you can so you can see the workouts better.

ATFG > Would you recommend this fitness app to a friend?

Yes, it’s got something for everyone – from beginners to those with a more experienced Pilates practice. All videos I’ve tried have given variations of the exercises to work around strengths and weaknesses.  There are also plenty of pre/post-natal videos and videos suitable for people rehabbing an injury.  It’s a great supplement to other exercises and even better for undoing, or breaking up, a day of sitting at a desk.

I would highly recommend getting to a few good in-person Pilates classes when you can.  You’ll pick up some great tips and adjustments to find how your body works and better understand how you move.

ATFG > What do you like about the app?

The filters, which mean you can efficiently find what you need each time you work out and the variety of teachers.  You quickly will find teachers you like, and don’t, which gives you good opportunity to work through all their videos.

Two other features I love are the download and favourites function.  This is awesome as you can set your favourite classes for easy picking and then download the ones you want to take with you when you’re travelling for example. You also have the option to view on a browser on a laptop so you’re not just restricted to a mobile device.

ATFG > What don’t you like?

The paradox of choice!  Even with the awesome filtering function you inevitably will feel overwhelmed at some point and end up ditching your workout for a nap instead (I’ve done this on more than one occasion).  And, as with most apps, you have to motivate yourself to use it as there’s no accountability.

ATFG > What track was playing through your workout?

Some of the sessions have background music which I generally don’t go much on.  I like to work out to rock or indie music but when I’m using the app I actually don’t put music on to make sure I can hear all the prompts and cues. But I do have a general playlist for my own workouts – check out the link below.

https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/1WsM0yOHJpCRExcrjrwbg7

Do you like Steph’s review? Drop a comment in the box below! If there’s a workout you’d like me to do, be sure to let me know. Reach out via Facebook, Instagram or email me at hello@askthatfitgirl.com

Until next time,
Maryanne K