Pilates, ballet, and yoga have been shown to increase flexibility and core strength while also helping prevent injury and improve joint alignment. Practicing Pilates at home or in a fitness center on a mat or that fancy torture device (also known as a Pilates reformer) has been a tradition for over 100 years. Pilates movements can be modified to meet the needs of participants at different skill levels. This adaptability benefits everyone from lay instructors to athletes recovering from injury.
What are Pilates socks and do I need them?
That’s where fashion and function come in. Pilates socks are all the rage, and I didn’t even realize I was missing out. I’ve attended a few Pilates and Barre Fitness classes, but mostly I was barefoot on my mat at home. Am I weird for not wearing Pilates socks? Should I have been wearing socks? Not just any socks, Pilates socks. They’re different. Simply put, Pilates socks are socks with a non-slip bottom to keep you from slipping on your mat or machine.
Wondering if you need one more item for your fitness routine? Of course, you can practice at home however you like. However, be aware of the policies of the fitness center, as some policies may require additional accessories. I tried out socks as a trending item this week. Overall, I found them useful and cute. Mine is a set of three pairs and they are very ballet-like. They gave me stability on the mat and my socks weren’t sweaty or smelly after 45 minutes (an initial concern).
Are Pilates socks worth it? What should I look out for?
“Pilates socks provide additional support and stability for exercises where you don’t wear shoes but don’t want to slip,” says Allie G. Nathan, Pilates and yoga instructor at Mayo Clinic’s Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center. “I recommend Pilates socks during Reformer Pilates classes, where students use their feet to balance on the various surfaces of the reformer machine. The sticky bottom of the socks means students are less likely to slip off the surface of the machine.” However, she encourages students to forgo socks for mat Pilates and yoga classes, as balancing barefoot strengthens ankle muscles and overall support. Don’t stress out over the hundreds of options available; comfort is the main goal.
Nervous about starting Pilates? Just show up to a class, encourages Nathan: “Everyone started out as a beginner!”
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