I did it! This is what a month of Wall Pilates did for me

I hesitate for a moment before pressing the download button on the Pilates Challenge app. I’m probably going to permanently destroy my algorithm and should prepare myself for a flood of ads on weight loss programmes, sports apps, life coaches and similarly annoying content. And «click»...there goes my algorithm. Hopefully for a good cause.

Let me start by saying, my sportiness comes in waves. I have phases where I exercise a lot, and then I have more sluggish phases, like right now. It’s not a major problem. But these lazy phases shouldn’t go on for too long otherwise getting out of them will be difficult. So for the next few weeks I’m planning a very short but regular Wall Pilates workout.

Day 1: Bumpy start

I’m starting the challenge rather unprepared because I don’t have enough time. I haven’t found a suitable wall and space yet. And surprisingly, it’s not that easy to find a piece of wall that isn’t covered by something. So the living room door will have to do. I can’t find my yoga mat at the moment either so I’ve just put a sleeping mat in front of the door. This soon turns out to be an unwise choice because the mat slips and the door makes frightening cracking and crunching noises that could herald an imminent collapse. Anyway, I’ve got to be quick today and that way I can improve things tomorrow.

First of all, I’m delighted at how easy it is to get started with the free app after I only have to say no to a paid subscription once. The selection of Pilates apps is enormous. I decide to go with one my friend recommended to me, otherwise I’ll probably get lost in the flood of options.

It starts rather abruptly: Day 1, 7 exercises. The app always alternates between 40-second exercises followed by a 15-second breather. Great, that gives me time to move my very unsuitable mat back to the very unsuitable wall/door. The exercises are almost all done with shoulder support, I mainly train my abdominal muscles, but I also use my arms, legs, bottom and back. The 40 seconds are over quickly, the exercises are easy to do and the suspense of what comes next makes it entertaining. Works for me! I’m happy with my first 5-minute workout.

Day 2: Everything will be better today – or maybe not?

After yesterday’s hasty start, I want to take more time to prepare today. In other words, I need a real wall space and the unsuitable sleeping mat should be swapped out for my yoga mat. I set off in search of a good section of wall. After a bit of rearranging, I finally find it and get started. The exercises are similar to yesterday’s and I get through them quickly.

Yoga mats

Yogistar Yogamatte Elements

6 mm

Yoga mats

Rollholz Cormat with natural rubber

4 mm

Yoga mats

Yogistar Basic 4mm Art Collection Yoga Mat

4 mm

Yoga mats

Yogistar Yogamatte Elements

6 mm

Yoga mats

Rollholz Cormat with natural rubber

4 mm

Yoga mats

Yogistar Basic 4mm Art Collection Yoga Mat

4 mm

Day 3: Now the conditions are right

Glad that I now have a suitable wall space without the risk of slipping, I already start to recognise some of the exercises. This makes it easier to actually do them. On the whole, it stays varied because the individual sequences change quickly. Each session is so short that it doesn’t take me any effort.

Day 4: First effects despite short exercises

In the last few days I’ve felt my muscles a bit, especially the ones that I don’t usually use. It’s tolerable, so I haven’t overexerted myself. I’m quite pleased about that, because with so little effort a day, I was worried I might not achieve anything at all. However, the short duration suits me very well and nips excuses in the bud. I can even do the few exercises quickly in the evening if I forget to do them during the day. Like today. by the time I realise I haven’t done my Wall Pilates yet, I should already be on my way to an appointment, but I can still fit the five minutes in.

Day 5: Familiar exercises in 2-day alternation

The slight muscle ache (if it was one at all) has disappeared. But I get the impression that I’m slowly feeling the muscle build-up. Now my body has probably got used to moving again. Perfect, that went faster than expected especially considering how short the exercises are each day. The exercises are basically repeated every two days. Will there be more variety? Since the app is free, I doubt it. But that doesn’t matter, I’ll make it to the end of the challenge with the ones I have. In the long run, more variety would certainly be appealing.

My verdict on week 1

Every day I’m happy that I’ve started the challenge. The app covers the basics – simple exercises I can easily do. I’ve been able to find five minutes every day (so far) and after just a few days, I can already feel the effect.

Week 2: I’m (still) going

I passed my first week with an A+, now I have to keep my motivation up. I admit it, I ignored my app on the first day of the second week. «I’ll find five minutes» I thought to myself. But there simply wasn’t the right moment on day eight. So I do double the workload the next day to catch up.

Apart from that, this week is similar to the first. But I’m a little bored of the exercises now. The initial element of surprise is gone, but that’s not a bad thing. I simply change it up myself. I stick to the 40 seconds, but do other Pilates exercises here and there that I know are good for me.

My verdict on week 2

The brevity of the exercises makes it easy to stick with them and make up a day if necessary. I notice a significant difference already. My arms, legs, stomach, everything feels firmer and fitter. I get into a routine, I (almost always) do the daily exercise session quickly on the side, without needing to convince myself.

Week 3: My discipline is dwindling

The classic problem sets in this week. My focus and discipline starts to dwindle. From day 17 onwards something comes up every day and my experiment is threatened. I fail to do my exercises three days in a row. Either the time was too short or I just didn’t feel like it and – I have to admit – one day I simply forgot.

After skipping Wall Pilates for three days, I pull myself together again. After all, I had just made a big deal about how these few minutes would easily fit in every day and how there were no excuses. Turns out, there are: reluctance, laziness, feeling sluggish, ... But now I’m getting back on to the bandwagon. The following three days, I do two sessions per day. Fortunately, this works quite well. Because once I’ve got myself to start, it doesn’t make much difference whether I add a second short session to it or not.

My verdict on week 3

There was a short period where my experiment almost failed, but I managed to get my act together. My learning from this week is that, even if the exercises take up so little time, there are days when I don’t get around to doing them.

Week 4: Wall Pilates also works without a wall

Admittedly, this isn’t the first time I’ve thought the wall isn’t essential. But now, as practice has shown quite clearly, there’s no real difference between Pilates and Wall Pilates , in my opinion. Funnily enough, the Wall Pilates app also includes some exercises that don’t require a wall in the first place. With the others exercises, I get the feeling that the wall is only there to legitimise calling it Wall Pilates. For example, for squats, the app tells me to put my hands on the wall. Okay, I can do that, but it’s still just squats. Or push-ups with my shins leaning against the wall. This would work just as well (and incidentally more easily) without a wall.

Oh well, it’s just a trend and they’re often pointless. At the same time, this is good news for those who have no free wall space because Wall Pilates also works without a wall. Apart from that, the fourth week was also pleasantly unexciting. I’m back in a routine and do the exercises every day.

My verdict on week 4

Welcome routine, goodbye persuasion! Now I’ve got into the Pilates habit. I’m glad that I’ve persevered this far, because now that I’m used to it, my daily Wall Pilates session usually runs all by itself. I usually do the exercises at lunchtime as a nice switch up from computer work.

This is what a month of Wall Pilates did for me

• Noticeable effects with little effort.
• I feel stronger and fitter than before.
• I’ve increased the number of push-ups, sit-ups and the like.
• A finding: in my opinion, it doesn’t matter whether it’s Wall Pilates or Pilates.
• A reminder: it takes some time to establish a new routine.

Pilates, back training, stretching exercises: this is my favourite

In my «I did it!» series, I test out various healthy habits. Before the Wall Pilates challenge, I had already tried a week of daily stretching exercises and a week of back training. All in all, each of these trial weeks (or the Pilates month) has definitely done me good. It’s hard to pick a favourite. Both the stretching and the back exercises made me more flexible, and daily stretching was the most enjoyable for my overall well-being. But the back exercises were a bit more exciting and also strengthened my muscles. I recommend all three types of exercise, simply because it’s good to get moving.

What should I try next? Daily dance workout, strength training, jogging, yoga ... Or something completely different? Let me know in the comments!