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How to Stay Consistent with Your Pilates Practice Through Winter
- Laura Carter
- Nov 11
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 12
Don’t wait for January, stay consistent with your Pilates practice this winter, the mindful movement will ease tension, improve sleep, and lift your energy.
Now the clocks have gone back, the days are shorter, and the cold wet weather has well and truly set in, it’s all too easy for movement and self-care to slide quietly off the list. The darker evenings make it harder to leave the house, the to-do lists grow longer, and the social calendar fills up as we approach Christmas, and life just feels full. But that’s exactly why this is the moment to pause, breathe, and make a little space for yourself.
Don’t Wait for January – Start Now, Gently
When we’ve let habits slip or things don’t go perfectly to plan, we often tell ourselves we’ll start fresh in January; when life is less hectic, when work slows down, when the festive season has passed – we all find our own reasons. But the truth is, there’s never a perfect time to begin.
Life is beautifully messy, and waiting for everything to align only means delaying the care you need right now. By showing up today, even imperfectly, you’re reminding yourself that your wellbeing matters - not someday, but today.
And the beauty of Pilates is that it meets you where you are. Even a single session can help you breathe more deeply, release tension, give you more energy, and help you feel more grounded.
Pilates as Self-Care (Not Just Exercise)
When things feel busy or overwhelming, self-care is often the first thing we let go of, yet it’s the thing we need most.
Your Pilates practice isn’t another obligation; it’s an hour that’s just for you. Thrive Pilates Studio offers you a calming, cosy and beautiful space to move, breathe, and reconnect with your body.
Everyone has days when motivation dips. But time and again, clients tell us that even when they almost didn’t come, they’re so glad they did. They leave class feeling lighter, calmer, more energised, more themselves again. The mindful breathing and gentle, flowing movements in Pilates help to quiet a busy mind, ease anxious thoughts, and reset the nervous system, leaving you better able to cope with everything else on your plate.
It might feel counterintuitive to slow down when life is speeding up, but this is exactly when it matters most. The gentle, mindful movement of Pilates helps calm your nervous system, ease tension, and lift your mood so you can move through the season with more balance and ease. In the run-up to Christmas, we give so much of our time and energy to others. Making space for you and your wellbeing is not indulgent - it’s essential self-care.
Less Pressure, More Presence
You don’t need to go all-in or overhaul your routine. The magic lies in consistency, not intensity.
Even if your practice looks a little different right now; maybe it’s one class a week, or maybe it’s a few minutes of stretching between meetings - it all still counts. Aim for presence not perfection. Each time you show up, you’re not just building strength and mobility; you’re building self-trust and resilience and reaffirming to yourself that your wellbeing is important.
Regular Pilates practice will help support better posture, improve flexibility, and reduce those familiar winter aches and stiffness that come from long hours at a desk or curled up on the sofa.
So instead of waiting for the new year, start small and steady now. You’ll feel more grounded through the festive season and start January feeling balanced, not burnt out. Lasting wellbeing is built through small, consistent habits — not big bursts of effort that are unsustainable.
Small Habits, Big Shifts
Consistency doesn’t mean perfection. It’s about weaving small moments of movement into your days when you can. Ever heard of habit stacking? Habit stacking is the simple idea of building new habits by linking them to ones you already do. For example, you start to do a few heal raises to improve your balance (new habit) while brushing your teeth (existing habit). It makes consistency easier because you’re not starting from scratch; you’re adding gentle, realistic actions into the flow of your existing routine. Over time, these small steps create lasting change without feeling overwhelming.
These little anchors of movement add up, gently shaping a routine that supports both your body and your mind.
Here's a few more ideas to try:
A few shoulder rolls or neck rolls while the kettle boils
Getting up from your desk between meetings for a few heal raises or waist twists
A gentle side reach before bed to help release tension and aid sleep
Keeping your regular Pilates class time as your “non-negotiable” moment of calm each week – even if you need to choose a different class each week to fit around your schedule.
These tiny acts of self-care add up. They remind your body (and your mind) that you’re worth showing up for.
Make It Fun!
When you choose movement you enjoy rather than what you feel you “should” do, it naturally becomes something you look forward to.
One of my clients calls her little bursts of movement “Pilates Snacks” - just a few minutes of her favourite feel-good moves or balance work. It’s a lovely reminder that movement doesn’t always have to be structured or serious. Finding playful moments to move, stretch, or breathe keeps it light, sustainable, and something you’ll want to come back to again and again.
How Thrive Pilates Makes It Easier to Stay Consistent
I know life doesn’t always go to plan, that’s why at Thrive Pilates flexibility is a core value.
With nine weekly classes, you can choose the time that fits best for you. We don’t tie you in to blocks, or make you stick to one particular class time – this is Pilates to fit around your schedule, not the other way around.
Our monthly membership plans are designed to make consistency simple and stress-free – a gentle nudge to help keep movement part of your life, even when things get busy:
Choose one or two classes per week, paid monthly by direct debit
Book any class that suits your schedule
Missed one? Catch up within the same or following month
Prefer a bit more freedom? Our class packs let you book in when you can - no fixed commitments, just Pilates that fits around your life.
With any membership plan you can book in for your classes months in advance if you wish! Clients tell us that booking their classes well in advance helps them stick to their routine; it’s a small commitment to themselves and their wellbeing. But if plans change – you’ve got up to 12 hours before class to change your booking.
A Little Extra Motivation: Our Festive Prize Draw 🎁
To celebrate one year of Thrive Pilates (and to keep you inspired through the festive season), we’re running a special Festive Prize Draw from 17 November to 19 December.
Every class you attend counts as one entry — so the more you show up, the more chances you have to win!
✨ 1st Prize: A 1 hour private 1:1 session with me (worth £60) - enjoy a 1 hour personalised 1:1 session where we focus on your goals, and your body.
✨ 2nd Prize: A £20 Thrive Pilates gift voucher to put towards your classes or a 1:1 session
✨ 3rd Prize: A £10 Thrive Pilates gift voucher to put towards your classes or a 1:1 session
It’s my way of saying thank you and of celebrating you for continuing to show up for yourself this winter.
Prizes will be drawn after the last class on the year on 19 December. Prize winners will be notified by email.
A Gentle Reminder
You don’t need to wait for January. You don’t need to do it perfectly. You just need to start and keep showing up when you can, one small step at a time. Every class, every stretch, every mindful moment adds up. And when you make space to look after yourself, everything else starts to feel a little lighter too.
Self-care isn’t selfish - it’s essential. Take time to refill your cup, breathe deeply, and give yourself the care and kindness you so freely give to others.
Ready to make some space for yourself?
Book in for your next class now, or register online now.
Not sure where to start?
Book in for a FREE discovery call - I'll answer all your questions, help you pick the best options to support your goals, and help you feel more confident getting started.
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