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I Tried the Pilates Princess Trend for a Month and Here’s What Happened

Are the TikTok girlies really onto something?

Article (news)

Chin Ann Obiedo

<p>I <em>hate</em> working out. I’m just gonna put that out there. I am, unfortunately, not really the most athletic type even though I wish I was. I’m not gonna lie, for years I’ve relied heavily on my genes and youth to tide me through my stubbornness to exercise. And before the written word captured my affection, I used to be a dancer too so that pretty much covered my physical activities. But after 25, life really has a way of telling you that you need to make a conscious effort to take care of your body. So I’ve been on a quest to find the best workout that I could learn to love. I’ve tried cycling, boxing, yoga, gym (thrice in my life!) but nothing has ever really stuck. So when I learned about the <strong>Pilates Princess</strong> trend on TikTok, I got really curious about it.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/wellness/fitness/why-is-pilates-famous-among-korean-celebrities/30774" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">This Is Why Pilates Is Such A Hit Among Korean Stars</a></div><p>It’s really not a stretch to call it the it girl workout. When you see videos about it, it feels very aspirational. But what exactly is it about pilates that makes it so appealing that people are willing to pay upwards of a thousand pesos per session? Is it the cool-looking machines? The promise of improving your posture? The vibes? Or maybe because <a href="https://metro.style/wellness/fitness/son-ye-jin-workout/25047" target="_blank">Son Ye-jin</a> and BLACKPINK&#x27;s <a href="https://metro.style/wellness/health/blackpink-jennie-self-care-practices/33821" target="_blank">Jennie</a> just look so good doing it?</p><div><br/></div><p>To put these questions to rest, I’ve decided to personally investigate this wellness trend because, as one of my favorite TV characters would put it, I gots to know!</p><div><br/></div><p>So, we connected with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onelifestudio/?hl=en" target="_blank">Onelife</a>, one of the best studios in the metro that have been in the pilates game for a decade so I can experience being a pilates princess for myself and see if it’s really worth the hype.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/wellness/fitness/pilates-machine-equipment-for-your-home/32392" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Build Your Own Pilates Studio At Home—Here&#x27;s How</a></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/0a8b88d5-662d-4159-8e1b-c656d2841f03_onelife studio.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><div><strong>What makes pilates unique and who is it for?</strong></div><p><a href="https://metro.style/wellness/fitness/fascinating-women-tanya-maria-aguila/24319" target="_blank">Tanya Maria Aguila</a>, owner of Onelife, says that pilates is unique in the sense that it doesn’t require you to challenge your physical limitations to the point of extremity. “Pilates is pretty sneaky (in a good way). It’s not super sweaty, and doesn’t beat you down or beat you up. It’s kind to your system and builds you up rather than breaking you down. It is a common misconception that good workouts only happen when you feel exhausted, spent, drenched in sweat, and almost at the point of throwing up.” </p><div><br/></div><p>She also adds that even though it doesn’t require you to push yourself to your limits, it’s still very transformative. “Although Pilates from an outsider’s perspective may seem just like a lot of stretching, internally what’s happening is that all your systems are firing, connecting and balancing for strength. It leaves you feeling more refreshed than ever after each and every session. Though drastic changes may take a bit more time with pilates than other formats, Pilates results do last a lifetime. If you stay with pilates, you can expect an entirely different, entirely fit body. It’s an exercise that definitely makes you glow inside and out.”</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/60baf8a6-4fe7-4be0-8b3d-075611d00e33_onelife studio 2.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><p>As for who can try the workout, <strong>Physio Coach Corina Priscilla De Villa</strong> says anyone can try pilates. “We find Pilates fits everyone, and most especially very well into the needs of many women. It’s low impact and highly adaptable to every body type. This does not mean it’s easy, though, not in the least. But efforts are controlled and workouts and sessions are done in such a way that makes sure there is minimal risk of injury, while at the same time maximizing the effectiveness and efficiency of the movements. So you may not come out of Pilates sessions sweating buckets, but you&#x27;ll definitely see the results quicker than you expect.”</p><div><br/></div><p>Tanya echoes this sentiment saying, “When done with proper guidance and in a supportive and encouraging environment, it is a very effective form of exercise that’s accessible and sustainable for a lot of women regardless of shape, size, ability, age! It’s a perfect complement to many activities and is great as a main go-to fitness regimen.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/wellness/fitness/what-is-ems-fitness/36746" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">This Modern Fitness Approach Reduces a 3-Hour Workout to Just 20 Minutes</a></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/3acde4e9-f6b8-4c82-a43e-af72d915c280_onelife studio 3.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><div><strong>The Workout</strong></div><p>Prior to this experience, I’ve actually tried two pilates classes from ClassPass. But for those sessions, we only got to use one reformer and the class took place in a physical rehabilitation clinic so it was really more catered for medical purposes. It was also not a one-on-one session but a group of two instead. So while I did get to have a glimpse of what it was like to have that pilates princess moment and I had a nice enough experience (sans discovering that pilates made your whole body hurt as much as a gym session), I felt like there was another level that I have yet to unlock.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/b9e8fbca-5828-4b4d-9521-5523e219b005_onelife 4.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><p>That was until I had my first session with Onelife studio. The moment I walked in inside the studio, I immediately thought, yep, this was it. This is the feeling everyone has been talking about. I don’t know if it was the interiors and view from the studio, I felt like I was one of those girls in the TikTok videos. I got assigned a personal pilates trainer and we started with a physical assessment. I got weighed and measured, and was asked to do some basic warm ups so the trainer could assess where I was at and what we could work on. Then, we proceeded to do exercises on the reformers. The first session, together with the assessment, took about two hours. I was told that after that, each session would be an hour.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/543d59ae-e6b9-4b79-8c5c-254857f56c1d_onelife 5.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><p>For the next few weeks, I diligently went to my classes. And for that one or two days in a week that I had scheduled my sessions, I understood why it was called being a “princess”. I realized that whenever I had a class, I was genuinely looking forward to it. I felt like I was doing something really good not just for my body but for my mind as well. I made sure to dress up for it and I set aside time for it even though I had a busy week. I even found myself walking around the area for extra steps and taking myself on a mini date after each session. It wasn’t just a workout, it felt like a state of mind. It really was like I was treating myself like a princess. What’s more is I also saw and felt the same energy with the other girls in the studio. We never talked but I could tell that the studio was also their safe haven. That for one hour a day, they left all of their worries and problems outside and they only had to think about their own selves in that studio. No distractions from the outside world.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/f8d45ed3-09ca-4665-afe4-6057023db5a6_onelife 6.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/e41a2d39-1d73-4f6d-bbbe-987bd9035991_onelife 7.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><div><strong>So, is it worth it?</strong></div><p>While I still long for the day I finally have the discipline to combine a high impact workout with a low impact workout, I can honestly say that the Pilates Princess trend is 100% worth it.</p><div><br/></div><p>It’s like being in a magical wellness escape where I can both feel strong and unwind, and concentrate on a singular goal. Just with the five classes I took, it’s helped me with toning my body, improving my flexibility and posture and it’s made me feel a lot stronger. The only major con for this workout is it’s not exactly cheap. So it really takes commitment to be able to maintain it.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/wellness/fitness/yoga-studios-in-manila/36250" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">5 Yoga Studios To Visit to Recover From A Stressful Week</a></div><div><strong>Final Thoughts</strong></div><p>As a beauty and wellness writer, I’m lucky enough to have the chance to try great products and services. But there’s only a handful of them that I can call life changing and trying pilates is one of them. It’s helped me in becoming a better version of myself—both physically and mentally. So if you’ve been wanting to try it out for yourself, go to that first class. You’ll find yourself booking for another one in no time, princess!</p><div><br/></div><p>Book your Pilates sessions at Onelife <a href="https://www.theonelifestudio.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>