Steph Claire Smith’s tips for Pilates girls who love the burn but hate the price

It doesn't have to break the bank

Steph Claire Smith shares her tips for Pilates at home. Image: Supplied

Love Pilates but hate the price? Kic co-founder Steph Claire Smith shares her top tips for keeping up your love of Pilates if you're on a budget.

Pilates is trending - and I am here for it! It’s hands down my favourite way to move. 

But with studio classes averaging around $30 per session, embracing the ‘Pilates girl’ aesthetic we see across social media can feel pretty unattainable  – especially with the cost of living on the rise. 

If you’ve had to put your studio Pilates routine on pause, you’re not alone. Over on Kic, we surveyed over 3000 Pilates lovers and found that 42 per cent have had to cut back on their studio classes, and 31 per cent have stopped attending altogether due to the cost.

On average, people spend $160 per month on Pilates, with one in four women spending between $200 and $300 monthly. So, annually, this becomes a substantial financial commitment.

Pilates can feel like an exclusive club, but the irony is that it’s one of the most accessible forms of exercise - you can do it from home with little-to-no equipment.

So, if you’re feeling devo that your Pilates days are over, here are my top tips for Pilates girls on a budget… 

Sign up for the Kic app with a 7-day free trial at kicapp.com

Steph Claire Smith recommends hybrid training. Image: Supplied

#1. Say ‘hello’ to hybrid training 

If you genuinely love studio Pilates but you’re looking to save some money, consider reducing your classes to once a week and complementing them with online Pilates, running or other at-home exercises that make you feel good. Ditch the ‘all or nothing’ mentality and focus on balance—keep that Saturday morning reformer class for the accountability and experience, and mix it up with cheaper/free workouts throughout the week! 

Try at-home Pilates to save on cash. Image: Supplied

#2. Try at-home Pilates 

If I told you to picture a Pilates girl, no doubt your mind would go to a ‘clean, hydrated queen’ stepping out of a boujie Pilates studio with a matcha in hand’. But trust me, that is not what my Pilates workouts look like! I literally roll out of bed, half asleep from an early wake up from my three year old, Harvey. I’ll squeeze in a 15-minute Kic Pilates class, which equals about two Bluey episodes (Mums IYKYK) usually on Harvey’s playmat because I can’t be bothered rolling out my own. It’s not glamorous, but I love it! There's no need to worry about waitlists, rushing to a studio or waking up late and getting stung with a cancellation fee - I can fit in a flow whenever it suits me. 

#3. DIY equipment 

If you’re thinking about trying at-home Pilates don’t feel like you need to go all out and buy lots of equipment. Trust me, you can get a serious burn with just bodyweight exercises. But if you’re looking to add a little resistance, there are plenty of at-home alternatives you can use.

Instead of dumbbells you could fill up some water bottles, use some tin cans or even wine bottles! Just make sure they’re the same weight if you’re using them as a pair.

Instead of a Pilates ball you can use a small cushion and if the workout calls for a booty band, you can do pretty much every exercise without it! I died when I saw @HealthyMumma tape a set of tin cans to her legs as ankle weights for a Kic Pilates flow. She’s a savvy queen and I am here for it! 

#4. Get your reformer fix from home 

My secret weapon - sliders! These slippery little disks may not look like much, but trust me, they will level up your burn. Using sliders in your workouts will force you to really switch on your deep core, which is essential to maintain posture, stability and balance. Sliders can help you achieve your favourite reformer movements on the mat, like lunges, scooters, planks and pikes. Allowing your muscles to work through a deeper range of motion, to help improve your flexibility. When using sliders you'll need to crank up your muscle activation and engagement, helping you get even more out of each movement! If you don’t have sliders, you can pop on a pair of socks - I’ve even used one of Harvey’s giant jigsaw puzzle pieces - honestly, whatever works! 

It’s a sad reality that with the rising cost of living, exercise tends to be one of the first things to cut down on. So, instead of giving up Pilates all altogether, I hope that I can empower you to seek out affordable ways to prioritise your body and mind - and get that Pilates fix!

At Kic we have over 200 guided Pilates classes to choose from, whether you’re a Pilates pro or you’re just starting out,  I’m so confident we have a flow that fits with you.

Find your match by heading to concierge.kicapp.com, take the quiz and receive a personalised Pilates pack to your inbox. Yep - it’s giving early noughties quiz nostalgia. 

Ready? Let’s flow.

Steph x

Sign up for the Kic app with a 7-day free trial at kicapp.com

Originally published as Steph Claire Smith’s tips for Pilates girls who love the burn but hate the price