PILATES IS A hugely popular and enjoyable class and will no doubt attract a good number of debutants this month.

And if you are one of these, be aware that the following six things will definitely happen to you.

You’ll be as stiff as a plank

If you’ve never done a pilates or yoga class before, or any meaningful or sustained stretching, you just have to bite the bullet on this one. You won’t be able to do ANYTHING the instructor demonstrates…but you’ll kill yourself trying.

2 You’ll sweat, groan and grunt more than anyone else

Going into the class you might be of the misconception that pilates is easy and you’ll breeze through it. But that is certainly not going to be the case and as soon as you’re instructed to raise those legs while your back is pinned to the floor you’ll be in serious trouble.

Then you’ll be instructed to hold your legs at a 45 degree angle to the floor for 30 seconds, and of course, you’ll realise how out of your depth you are.

It’s going to hurt where it shouldn’t so just accept that the only way to learn is to come again next Thursday and for the next 10 Thursdays….but for God’s sake remember to breathe okay?

You’ll wonder how the 70 year-old can do that

There’s always that petite old woman in the corner who is going to put you and everyone else to shame. You’ll convince yourself she’s a former gymnast or spent six months in an Indian pilates retreat honing her technique. You might be the best footballer on the team, the strongest bodybuilder in the club or a national level athlete, but here, you are at the bottom of the pile.

You’ll think it’ll be the easiest class in the world after the first 10 minutes

You’ll enter the class and it’ll be all about connecting with yourself while you lie on the floor, bracing your core, inhaling, exhaling and simple stuff like that. In fact, it’s so easy you might actually nod off. Enjoy it while it lasts.

You’ll come away feeling twice the person

That feeling of finishing a class is a real highpoint. The teacher brings the class to a conclusion with a brief round of applause and you make for the door like a man after leaving the oven on.

And boy will you feel good.

You’ll try to pretend it’s easy

The tell-tale signs are shaking, sweating, grimacing, grinning, looking at the watch….but of course you’ll smile at the person opposite you as if to say ‘easy’.

Try this 20-minute abs blasting core routine

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