I follow a fairly standard upper-body routine for my weekly workouts, using dumbbells for exercises like biceps curls and chest presses.
However, I've recently started experimenting with Pilates. While most of my Pilates sessions have been full-body routines, I came across a routine by instructor Lidia Mera that targets the arms exclusively.
While it's just a five-minute workout, Mera says it will still provide that famous Pilates muscle burn.
I was curious to see if this was true and whether it could be an alternative to my usual arms workouts.
How to do Lidia Mera's Pilates arm workout
You don't need any equipment for this routine, although it’s mostly done from a kneeling position so I rolled out my yoga mat for extra knee support. I use the Yogi Bare mat, which is soft, supportive, and ideal for Pilates and yoga.
Simply follow along with Mera's video in real time. There are no instructions or audio so you'll have to keep an eye on the screen for her demo. Perform each exercise for 45 seconds.
My honest thoughts on Pilates arm workouts
This routine involves small, repetitive arm movements and surprisingly, my muscles started to burn quite quickly. Performing the movements for just 45 seconds was a challenge.
That said, the burn was different from how I feel when lifting weights. With weight training, the intensity builds until you hit muscle fatigue in the last few repetitions.
So does this type of movement actually strengthen the arms? I asked personal trainer Eloise Skinner for her take. "For those looking to significantly increase muscle mass, it might be preferable to choose a workout focused on weight training or add in props like handheld weights, into a Pilates routine to stimulate muscle hypertrophy," says Skinner.
However, this doesn't mean Pilates isn’t worth doing. "Pilates is a great addition to any weight-focused workouts since the overall focus on core strength and alignment helps to reduce injuries, increase endurance and provide a strong foundation for weight-bearing movements," says Skinner.
This has been true for me. Combining Pilates with weight training has not only helped me build strength but has also reduced stiffness and improved my mobility and stability.
Overall, the movements in this routine provided a constant burn in my arms, effectively activating the muscles and testing their endurance. For that reason, I think Mera's workout would make a great warm-up for an upper-body strength session.
