On the other hand, Fernandez says she’s had students take class in jeans when they’ve forgotten to bring workout clothes. “It’s a little hard to get your dexterity in your knees when you’re wearing hard pants,” she says.
Also: Pay attention to the studio’s rules around socks. Some, like Club Pilates, for instance, require students to wear grip socks for better traction (and hygiene). Other instructors encourage bare feet so you have a more tactile connection to the mat or equipment. Just be sure to take off your everyday cotton socks that can leave you slipping and sliding around.
What to do instead: Your clothes don’t need to be skin-tight, Phelan says. Just make sure they’re form-fitting — and stretchy — enough around the low back and pelvis so that your instructor can see your alignment as you move through the exercises. If you forgot your usual gear at home, Fernandez says that’s why studios often sell apparel in the lobby (even if it is on the expensive side).
7. You don’t speak up.
The instructor is there to help you get the most out of the workout, so share the info they need to help make that happen. Maybe it’s your first time or you have an injury or pregnancy that might limit certain movements — so tell them. “It’s easy to modify everything,” Fernandez says. “We just need to be aware of what we have to modify.”
If you simply try to make your own way through the exercises yourself, you could further injure something or just not get the full benefit, Fernandez says. “You’re going to get a way better experience if you let your instructor know what’s happening,” Phelan adds.
What to do instead: At the start of class, most teachers will ask if there are any first-timers or injuries they should know about, so speak up. “You don’t need to do a deep dive — a couple of sentences letting your teacher know what’s going on,” Phelan says. Of course, you might not want to blurt out something personal in front of an entire room. You can always pull the teacher aside before class begins or give the front desk a heads up so they can pass it on, Fernandez suggests. “I get emails from students who will say, Hey, I got injured last weekend. Is there anything I should know before class?” Phelan says.
Of course, sometimes we don’t realise something’s not right until mid-way through a workout. In this case, Phelan suggests flagging down or making eye contact with the teacher so they can come over to help you.
Don’t let these tendencies stop you from practicing.
If some of these mistakes hit a little close to home, don’t beat yourself up. Even the most dedicated Pilates practitioners can be guilty of them from time to time. “I can find myself getting misaligned and out of form, so I too constantly have to check in, slow down, and remind myself that form and alignment is key!” Stewart admits.
The good news? The more consistently you practice, the more you’ll strengthen that mind-body connection that Pilates emphasises, and make the right habits come naturally. In the meantime, don’t let the intimidation factor of Pilates keep you from trying — even if you have to “fake it” a bit until you figure out the right approach, Stewart says: “Do not worry. You are going to be great.”
This article originally appeared on SELF.