Tight budgets and Pilates classes don’t mix. Why not DIY?

There’s a Pilates studio that recently opened just down my street. After months of wondering what would go in that space that has windows for front walls, I was really excited when I saw the sign. Pilates, steps from my front door. Please and thank you! But when I looked up their class prices, I was thoroughly disheartened: $122 for 4x per month. Quick math: that’s $30+ per class. You’re kidding. I was so turned off, which was worsened by the pure Inatagramyness (how is that not a word in the dictionary yet?) of their website and studio décor. And their messaging, painted on their walls and stickered on their doors, that their studio is an inclusive space for all is inaccurate. They say they support you, no matter your experience, age, level of fitness, or body composition, but they missed something: finances. You can’t call yourself inclusive if you exclude a large part of the population that can’t afford such high-priced membership. Herein lies the accessibility problem.

Obviously, they aren’t the only Pilates studio charging high prices for a practice that is inherently “for everybody.” Yoga studio membership, on average, is hardly accessible either. As Jordan Rosenfield notes in The Atlantic, monthly yoga studio memberships generally run between $100 and $200. Where I live, a monthly unlimited membership is closer to $120-150, and if you’re going once a week, that’s over $30 per class. If you think about it, that same price is likely what you spend per week (or month, depending on how many people you buy for) on groceries. I’m sorry, but if you’re on a tight budget, the need for food (i.e., survival) far outweighs the few hours of bending this way and that.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Pilates (and yoga). I’ve been practicing Pilates for five years. I took one in-studio Pilates class way back, thanks to a free pass from a friend, but otherwise I stuck to YouTube Pilates, specifically the videos that require no equipment because not only was I (and still am) on a tight budget, I had no equipment, nor did I want any. From doing Pilates, I’ve become a firm believer that the body is a piece of equipment in itself. I don’t need machines or weirdly shaped objects to get health benefits from movement. Gravity and body weight are plentiful to make me shake and sweat.

So what to do about the accessibility problem? Since the pandemic and being on screens more than ever, I can see the draw of studio classes which give you a reason to leave the house AND interact with another human in person, let alone grant you a good workout. But that still doesn’t change the financial barrier to attending classes. Before the pandemic, I might have said give YouTube Pilates a go. But last winter, when I couldn’t stand the idea of being on a screen anymore and listening to a peppy Pilates instructor talk about coral pink spandex matching her inner vibes and how she was worried about Brittney (Brittney Spears) because she hadn’t been that active on TikTok, I decided to make my own Pilates routine. I went the old-fashioned route and wrote my favorite strength-building moves per body part (i.e., butt, back, arms, legs, abs) on a piece of paper and set a timer for 20 minutes. I’ve been doing that since.

I write this to share what I’ve learned in case you too are looking for strength training without the hubbub of studios and their high prices. Why not DIY? Despite the high prices of studios that imply you need to pay big bucks for a high-quality workout, Pilates (or strength training, in general) is accessible if you just have a place to move your limbs for a little while. All you need is a mat (or a blanket to protect the bony parts of you, like knees) and a timer. Music is also great for keeping your mind off the timer and giving you a beat to pulse to. I like Happy Hits on Spotify.

Here are 10 of my favorite moves for a full-body strength workout:

(Picture demonstrations with short descriptions are below; “L/R” = do both left side and right side)

1. Pointed-toe butt lift (L/R)
2. Straight-leg butt lift (L/R)
3. Hammy curls (L/R)
4. Cobra push-ups
5. Oil riggers (L/R)
6. Double leg lift
7. Cheerleader Ls (L/R)
8. Candlestick dippers (L/R)
9. Banana rock
10. Plank

Do each of these moves for 30 seconds to 1 minute (per side for moves with left/right) and voila! You’ve just busted out some Pilates. All by yourself. For free.

Note #1: You can take 10-15 second breaks in between moves. Or no breaks. You are your own instructor! (If I had a ribbon, I’d give it to you).

Note #2: These photos are not Instagramy, nor is my form. That’s the point.

The bottom line is that Pilates is doable without fancy equipment and classes. That said, some of us just want or need a class for the motivation, community, or change of scenery. I get that, but if you’re like me, and you just want to exercise and feel the burn without burning though cash, try DIY. There are so many more moves you can do, with adjustments and adaptations for different needs, and a quick Google search will show you just how accessible Pilates can be. It really is for everybody, all you need is a body.