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What to Wear
The right workout wear will make your training even more effective.
By Andrea Learned
The body positions and movements of Pilates require certain clothing features. If you've been doing Pilates for even a little while, you are familiar with the "Roll Up slide": the downward slip of your tights, leggings or shorts that compounds as you continue your Roll Up repetitions. You also understand that a big T-shirt hinders your ability to see what your abdominals and knees are doing as you move through the exercises. So what do most people wear in their mat classes or during private Pilates sessions? And what outfit best accommodates all that movement? Clothing styles and comfort levels vary depending on age, fitness level and body or studio temperature, but the following guidelines will help you select workout wear that won't work against you as you work out.
The Tops In Tops
A fitted short-sleeve shirt or tank top is your first choice. Whatever style you choose-thin straps, wide straps, crossover fronts, racer backs-should allow your arms to move freely as you go through your Pilates routine. For women, many of the tank tops have built-in bras, so you won't need to put on a sports bra as well. Pamela O'Briant, an instructor with PraXis Balanced Body Studio in Mt. Pleasant, SC, points out, "If a person's starting point with Pilates is a mat class rather than one-on-one sessions with an instructor, it may take a few classes for him or her to realize that seeing one's ribs, abdominal and hip bones is beneficial." Tops that gently hug your midriff but don't hang down much further are just the ticket.
Pants For Pilates
When it comes to pants, the most important thing is the waist. Drawstrings, too-tight elastics and buttons or snaps will make many Pilates moves very uncomfortable to complete. Fitted pant options include shorts, capri-style pants and leggings, all of which will allow you to keep an eye on your alignment. Or try a pair of slightly looser pants, as long as they're not too baggy. Cortney Singleton, yoga and Pilates instructor at The Pilates Center in the Bougainvillea Clinique, Winter Park, FL, recommends pants that don't bunch or slide, especially for Roll Ups and Roll Overs. Fitted pants have the added benefit of staying in place as you lift your legs straight up during matwork.
Total Coverage Options
A full-body option that more people are choosing as Pilates grows in popularity is the dance-inspired unitard, which can mitigate the problems of both visibility and bunching. If you like the idea of a unitard, but want a little more coverage on your way to class, many clothing manufacturers also offer light pullovers or sweaters to match their exercise clothes, a nice option if your studio tends to be chilly.
The Fabric Factor
Fortunately, exercise-wear has come a long way since the thong leotards of 1980s aerobics. Much of the activewear on the market today is made from deliciously soft, long-lasting materials that won't pill or fade with repeated washing. What's more, these high-tech fabrics also wick sweat away from your skin and keep you feeling fresh instead of clammy.
Whichever clothing option you end up choosing, what's most important is that the material allow you to stretch and move without getting in your way or making it difficult to see your alignment. And as you develop the new level of fitness that Pilates delivers, the reason for more fitted and functional clothing becomes clearer and your comfort in wearing it grows rapidly. Carrie Rezabek Harnish, owner of The Pilates Institute of Birmingham, in Birmingham, MI, reports that as her students progress, they seem to notice what others in class or in the studio are wearing, and then gradually begin to wear more fitted T-shirts or tank tops along with pants that have elasticized waists. "Once a Pilates student sees their body changing a bit," she says, "incorporating style into their clothing adds another level of fun to the practice."
Celebrate the newfound strength and tone of your body by trying many different styles and brands. As Pilates becomes more popular, more manufacturers and retailers will seek our input on what constitutes ideal Pilates wear. Start taking notes now!
Andrea Learned is a Pilates instructor who is also a marketing-to-women consultant. Based in Burlington, VT, she is the co-author of Don't Think Pink: What Really Makes Women Buy-and How to Increase Your Share of This Crucial Market (AMACOM, 2004). She can be reached at andrea@learnedpilates.com.
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