3 Pilates power moves

Speaking of the repertoire, it’s huge, with more than 500 moves to explore and perfect. To do them well, you’ll need three pillars of a well-rounded body: strength, stability, and flexibility, Phillips notes. “Many of the exercises require all three, making them unique challenges that demand a good amount of core activation.” 

As Ilaria Coletto can attest, the benefits extend beyond the gym. “The best surprise was seeing my posture get better and better, even after my first session,” says Coletto, a junior Pilates instructor at Equinox Hudson Yards in New York City. “It has brought balance to my body.”

There are beginner and intermediate exercises, of course, but the advanced moves require extra stability and total-body engagement to keep the carriage (the flat, wheeled platform) still. Below, the three experts share their Pilates power moves, each of which prioritizes one of the three elements, and two prep moves that will help you master them.