Do You Need to Be Flexible to Start Pilates?

RELATED INSTAGRAM VIDEO: Watch here

When I suggest someone starts Pilates, I often hear: “Oh, I can’t do that — I’m not flexible enough. I can’t even touch my toes!”

My reply? “All the more reason you should do Pilates!”

Smiling, I say to you, let’s set the record straight — you do not need to be flexible to begin Pilates. Your body is designed to move, and the longer you wait, the more mobility you lose. As the old saying goes, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”

Flexibility and mobility are essential parts of being fit — just as important as strength or endurance. A well-rounded fitness routine should include restorative movement, stretching, and myofascial release to maintain healthy range of motion. The result? A balanced, pain-free body that moves with ease and confidence.

Did you know that tight hamstrings can be a hidden cause of lower back pain. When these muscles at the back of the thighs become shortened or restricted, they pull on the pelvis and tilt it backward. This pelvic tilt flattens the natural curve of the lower back, placing extra strain on the lumbar spine and the surrounding muscles and ligaments.

Over time, this imbalance can lead to stiffness, discomfort, and even chronic pain by disrupting the natural movement and alignment between the pelvis and spine. Addressing hamstring tightness through stretching, mobility work, and Pilates-based movement can help restore balance, improve posture, and relieve lower back tension.

At Firefly Pilates, every session is personalised. Whether you’re a beginner to Pilates or focused on improving flexibility, exercises are always modified to meet your body where it’s at. You’ll never feel pain or pressure — only progress. As you grow stronger and more mobile, your Pilates program evolves with you.

One of my regular clients, who loves long walks, often experiences tight hamstrings and calves. Through her contemporary Pilates sessions, we focus on lengthening, strengthening, and restoring balance to her muscles ( while also doing other fun Pilates exercises ) — helping her move freely and feel her best. See the related Instagram video.

If you’re ready to feel more flexible, mobile, and in tune with your body, Firefly Pilates is the perfect place to start.

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