Choose clothes that aren’t too tight or too loose. This can take a little time in the fitting room at the store, because what seems to be all right while you’re standing up might not feel so great when you’re bending over or lying on your back.

When you try on the Pilates clothes you’d like to have, move around in the fitting room. Lift a leg and lift your arms. Bend over. Now think about how loose the pant legs are—if you’re on your back on a Pilates machine, how well could someone see up the your pant leg? If it’s too loose, you could give them quite a show.

How low cut are your Pilates clothes? When you bend over, does the cleavage become too revealing? Does the back pull up and possibly reveal more skin that you would like? If you’re wearing shorts, also consider what might show when you bend over, and how comfortable they might be if you bend and straighten repeatedly.

Because you will be on your back sometimes, and you will be rolling onto your back, think about any features on your Pilates clothes that could be uncomfortable. Any ties, buttons, beads or embellishments that will come between you and the floor could be potentially painful.

Don’t forget to consider your underwear—those are part of your Pilates clothes, too. A sports bra can offer extra support while dispensing with metal or plastic hooks against your back. You might not normally mind those hooks, but when you’re on your back on the floor, after a while they could dig into your back and become uncomfortable.

Some exercise clothes and workout tops are designed with a built-in bra for support while offering soft fabric with no bunches or embellishments. You could also opt for a regular, supportive bra with a clasp in front, if you don’t like sports bras.

Many people wear thong underwear because they’re comfortable—almost like wearing nothing at all. But are they really going to be comfortable for you to exercise in? Some people like them, some don’t. You might consider regular full or bikini panties to avoid your underwear bunching and becoming uncomfortable. And go for plain, unembellished underwear, with no appliqu? jewels or other features, to be sure those won’t irritate you.

While it’s important that your clothes aren’t too tight and restricting, you also won’t want them to be too loose, especially if you’re exercising on Pilates machines where clothes that billow too much could get caught in the springs. If you’re in doubt, choose Pilates clothes that are just loose enough to allow you to move.

Many more areas are offering classes with the Pilates Reformer. The reformer is a Pilates machine that you use to do various exercises. All Pilates started out using these machines, but their cost lead some people to develop Pilates routines using movements like you would use on a machine. Each class won’t offer the same thing, nor will each one give you quite the same benefit.

Pilates classes that don’t use the machine still offer all the benefits of the Reformer. The movements are just more under your control and can be less structured. But they should all mimic a type of movement you can do on the Reformer machine.

Some classes involve a large group in which everyone brings his or her own mat. The instructor leads the group through the gentle Pilates movements. Some classes do have mats available, but if you choose this type of workout class be sure to invest in a mat right away. They’re inexpensive, and you won’t have to use a mat that someone else has sweated on!

Other classes use a variety of equipment instead of a Pilates machine or just mats. Balance balls are a popular item for not just Pilates these days but all types of exercise classes. Using a balance ball does what it says—it forces you to balance yourself, which works a variety of tiny muscle groups that it’s hard to exercise in any other way.

Resistance bands are excellent for mimicking the movements of a Pilates machine and offering adjustable resistance. You’ll get more benefit out of Pilates movements with a band or some type of resistance than you will making the movements on your own. Classes that use bands or a Pilates circle are the closest to the type of workout you get on a machine.

Pilates classes for certain conditions are usually available where a variety of classes are offered, too. Pilates for seniors, for instance, might be a choice. Pilates is naturally low impact, but classes especially for those with arthritis or mobility problems may be available.

Pilates for those who want to combine it with some type of dance or more active workout are becoming popular. Pilates for pregnancy is also a type of class that’s becoming more popular as the benefits of exercise for expectant mothers is becoming more and more clear.

You could also take a session or two of private Pilates instruction to learn the basics. Try a few different classes, and you’ll better be able to tell which types of Pilates classes are right for you.

Pilates was actually designed to be done on a machine called a Reformer. Because not everyone had access to these machines and the movements proved to be so beneficial, Pilates routines were developed that didn’t require the machine at all. And they weren’t designed to be done with a ring, either.

Many perfectly good workouts don’t use a machine, a Pilates circle, or resistance of any kind except your own resistance as you move through the exercises. But a ring can help you achieve more intensity in your exercises.

If you can add resistance to a Pilates workout, the movements simply do double duty, and you may be able to get in shape faster than if you didn’t use resistance. So while it’s not absolutely necessary to have a Pilates magic circle, if you want one you should consider it a good investment.

All of the Pilates rings aren’t made alike. You can find them for as little as $15 and for as much as $75. Do you need the most expensive one you can find? You can probably get by with a less expensive one. Just test it a little bit before you make the purchase to be sure it seems like it can hold up to repeated workouts. Rings that don’t bounce back properly won’t do you much good.

The Pilates exercise circle can also be used in other workouts to add resistance, so you might find it’s more versatile than you thought. Being able to use it during other exercises certainly increases its value. You’ll use it more, and get more benefit from it that way.

But even if you purchase a Pilates magic circle, you should consider purchasing another very inexpensive piece of workout equipment. And this exercise equipment is even more versatile than the ring.

Resistance bands offer varying levels of resistance to meet your needs, and can be used with almost any exercise. They also offer the benefit of longer movements than a Pilates ring can offer. You can hold a resistance band and stretch both arms fully out to your sides, or do high leg lifts with intensity, and the band will always snap back into place.

This piece of equipment can be and often is used during Pilates workouts, because it puts resistance on both the flex and relax movements of each muscle, which is a cornerstone of Pilates exercise.

Resistance bands can cost as little as $10, and can be used in a variety of ways, so they’re a great investment. Even if you purchase a Pilates magic circle for specific exercises, you might want to consider incorporating bands into your workout, too.

But there are few things more disappointing than purchasing a Pilates how to DVD or any workout DVD only to get it home and find it’s not for you. We’ve all done it—you pop it in the player excited to start the workout, and within 10 minutes you’re discouraged.

Either the instructor is the most fit person on the planet and you can’t possibley keep up with all those movements, or the workout is just too strenuous. Some workouts even designed for beginners can be too hard for someone who hasn’t exercised in a long time.

Pilates how to DVDs are different, though, so there is less chance you’ll become discouraged. The very nature of Pilates minimizes the chance that you’ll want to turn it of in disgust or disappointment after only 10 minutes.

Not only are Pilates movements something almost everyone can do, there should be no strain or difficulty when making the movements. The whole concept of Pilates is gentle, and the movements are so precise and controlled that it doesn’t take many repetitions of each movement to get the full benefit.

A Pilates how to video or even a book can show you the proper form for these movements. Pilates was designed by Joseph Pilates, who also designed the Reformer, the machine on which the movements were to be made. Pilates has become a phenomenon, though, without the machine, as the movements done on their own offer the same benefits.

You can use resistance bands, balance balls or a Pilates ring to add more benefit to your workout. But even if you just do the movements themselves while tensing your muscles and focusing on the movements, you’ll reap the rewards of this excellent exercise.

Pilates how to instruction should be easy to follow, because there really aren’t any complicated moves in Pilates. The movements should all feel relatively natural to you, and not be painful to do. If you’re experiencing pain (unless it’s just a little muscle soreness) then you’re probably not doing it correctly.

Trying renting a few Pilates DVDs designed for beginners and try them each before you purchase. That way, if one doesn’t happen to be for you, you won’t have wasted much money or time on it.

For the best Pilates instruction, invest in a few private sessions with an instructor. He or she will make sure you’re doing the movements correctly, and that you understand the purpose of each one. This type of Pilates how to instruction can help you get the most benefit from your home workouts.