SparkPoints: (91,490)
Fitness Minutes: (108,852)
Posts: 3,592
6/9/09 11:03 P

I agree with Madameaja as my chiropractor is my lifeline. I religiously do Pilates and I do not take anything stronger than baby aspirin. I can always tell when I am out of alignment when I look in the mirror and one shoulder is just a tad bit lower than the other.

current weight: 141.0

177 166 155 144

133

SparkPoints: (76,981)
Fitness Minutes: (62,409)
Posts: 4,621
6/9/09 1:18 P

My Pilates instructor works in a room with hardwood floors. We only have the thin Harbinger mats. I get private lessons to make sure my form is correct since I am recovering from a back fracture. I would guess it is your alignment when doing the moves, not the mat. Tell your instructor what happens.. Maybe she can keep an eye on you and help next time you go.

Pounds lost: 0.0

0 6.5 13 19.5

26

SparkPoints: (86,390)
Fitness Minutes: (28,835)
Posts: 17,370
6/4/09 5:41 P

I always use 2 Pilates mats on a carpeted concrete floor. Perhaps you need an extra mat. Also, you do classes, but are you doing exercises at home? When I was first put onto Pilates, I was given exercises to do at home - initially spine/hip warm-ups - 10minutes 2x daily, then some abdo work too, 15minutes 2-3 times daily. That helped me a lot. Also the other thing is, is your instructer physically checking you to ensure that you are doing them correctly?

current weight: 151.0

211 196 181 166

151

Posts: 626
6/4/09 4:29 P

When I have upper back pain, I'm always out of alignment. A trip to the chiropractor and I'm good to go again. Ardel

Posts: 54
6/4/09 4:13 P

I've taken Pilates for the last 3 weeks, and last night was my first full class (I had been doing 25 minutes of the 50).

Today my tummy isn't really sore, which is good, I guess (normally it is) but my upper back hurts. Sitting up straight helps some (I tend to slouch) but I feel like I slept on a really hard surface.

I'm wondering if maybe I need to be using a thicker mat? Our class is held on a hardwood floor and my mat isn't super thick or anything. Is it possible I just need more cushion there to keep this from happening again?

Pounds lost: 6.8

0 35.5 71 106.5

142