A Pilates workout is tough but it leaves you feeling like you've worked and stretched every known muscle in your body.  The workout involves performing 3-10 repetitions of 20-50+ exercises over 45-50 minutes.  The exercises involve movement; no poses are held.  Each exercise has purpose and rhythm, and each movement is precise.  Some exercises stretch, some are for breathing, some are for correcting your posture.  All strengthen, gratefully, the Powerhouse (muscles of the abdomen, back, and buttocks) but also the arms and legs.

Many of my clients say that Pilates is the only exercise they truly enjoy doing.  After their workouts they feel like they have accomplished something.  They have worked hard.  Their bodies feel warm and loose.  Their minds are clearer.  They also report that overall they don't tire as easily, they sleep better, their aches and pains are better (a few have stopped going to their chiropractors, masseuses, reflexologists, therapists).

Yes, and no.  Pilates slims your silhouette by flattening your stomach and encouraging a longer body line.  This can happen even without fat loss.  But, as with any other exercise, if you consume more calories than you need, you will be fat.  Throw away your scale!  Trust instead the changes that you see in the mirror as well as how your clothes fit.  Your weight can fool you, because you don't know how much of it is lean (increased muscle and bone density) and how much of it is fat.  More on this...

"In ten sessions you will feel the difference, in twenty you will see the difference, and in thirty you'll have a whole new body."

 Joseph Pilates

One to three sessions a week, depending on how much or how fast you want to change.  If you can, start off with 3 sessions a week.  It is easier to "put Pilates in your body" with more frequent reinforcement.  If you can only take one lesson a week, try to be diligent about doing your homework.  Practice everything you can remember. 

Mat can be done as often as every day, even in addition to other exercise.  Resistance work with springs can be done thrice weekly, but for the dedicated professional athlete or dancer who must be careful about overtraining, once a week is enough.

Once you reach your goal, you can stay in shape doing Mat exercises at home.  Pilates is about movement.  Move!!!  You can maintain your body by applying the movement principles to your other fitness activities.  Or you can continue to take lessons and go onto more advanced exercises, or if you qualify, you can continue to work out at reduced rates with less and less supervision.