It's hard to remember that A-listers sometimes do normal things like go to a fitness class after finishing filming. For Emily in Paris star Lily Collins, that means heading to Brooks Pilates, a chic boutique fitness studio that focuses on low-impact exercises to energize every muscle in your body.
Whether you're doing your workout on a sliding reformer or doing bridges and squats on a mat with a ball or resistance bands, Pilates has a way to work with micromovements, bends, stretches, and deep strengthening that's specific to your body Movements to improve your mind-body connection. entire body while remaining gentle.
To find out what Collins liked most about Brooks Pilates, and to see if it could help me feel more relaxed, stronger, and more balanced, I signed up for a class.
What is Brooks Pilates?
Brooks Pilates is a sunny studio located in Chelsea, Manhattan, founded by coach Sarah Brooks. It offers reformer classes and is the go-to spot for Collins, her Emily in Paris costars Ashley Parker, Serena Kerrigan and Kit Keenan.
The studio offers group classes for a 50-minute workout, and you can also sign up for private sessions for extra one-on-one attention. Prices are $70 for group classes and $325 for a 5-pack.
For those not local to the New York City studio, you can try the on-demand virtual classes offered, as well as live classes. They're perfect if you usually do in-person workouts and want to keep up your workout routine while traveling, but they're also ideal for those who prefer to work out at home. (Read: me.) Virtual classes start at $19.99, but you can buy a three-pack for $45, a five-pack for $75, or a 10-pack for $150.
my experience
I have a full Pilates facility in my apartment. There's a mat, a Pilates ball, gliders, resistance bands, assorted non-slip socks, and everything I could possibly need for a home workout, so I'm prepared - however, if you don't have equipment, you may need to get some There are a few things to prepare for the course (you can check in advance what is required for each course). Note that you can do many of these without any tools.
To get started with my OnDemand course, I logged in and perused the table of contents. You can choose how long you want to exercise, whether it's 15 minutes, 30 minutes or more than an hour. You can also choose from targeted classes, such as the week-long Beginners Series, Standing Series, and Level 6 classes using Pilates balls.
My best time is always in the 15 to 30 minute range, so I chose a 29-minute class called "Quick Full Body + Ball," which requires a Pilates ball and mat. We started by lying down and doing mini arm squeezes with a ball. I was quickly reminded that while Pilates involves many small, seemingly simple movements, the burn can quickly add up. Brooks instructs the class to extend and retract their arms, which immediately illuminates my upper body muscles.
The video of her being so calm with her students made me remember to go at my own pace - a godsend when we move onto more difficult movements like tilt twists, table tops and other isolation exercises like leg raises .
Brooks also suggests making small adjustments that always come into play when you think you can't do it again. This move worked my hamstrings, lower back, inner thighs, glutes, shoulders, and arms...and I definitely felt it the next day.
The next day, I checked out the Recommended Classes section of my dashboard and found a 23-minute video called Arms and Posture that I immediately knew my round back would love.
We did fun arm circles, arm curls, and arm pumps—all while lying down—and then moved on to shoulder blade squeezes, cactus arm pulses, and other exercises designed to target the tiny back extensor muscles that attach to the spine. After five minutes, I felt like I had grown two inches, thanks to my muscles relaxing.
judgment
The workouts feel gentle, effective, and produce just the right amount of sweat. Thanks to Brooks' personable guidance, it was easy for me to follow and made sure I was doing each move the right way for maximum benefit.
As an appreciator of all things organized, I also like the OnDemand option's calendar feature so I can track my workouts, as well as the stats bar where I can see how many workouts I've completed.
Let’s be honest, there are many Pilates platforms out there, each with their own special features, so which one you choose will depend on your fitness goals and personal preferences. Brooks Pilates has a gorgeous studio that's worth checking out if you can, but its on-demand options are just as good.
The one-on-one vibe you get from Brooks in her videos makes you feel like you're actually in the studio—which helped me pretend I was working out with Collins herself.
Research references:
Amzajedi, A. (2023). Effects of Pilates exercise on sleep quality and fatigue among female dormitory residents BMC Sports Science Medicine Rehabilitation. DOI: 10.1186/s13102-023-00675-7.
Campos, R. R. (2015). Effects of the Pilates method on physical conditioning in healthy subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. PMID: 26004043.
Chauhan, R. (2022). Effectiveness of plyometrics and Pilates exercises in improving vertical jump performance in basketball players. Kurus. doi:10.7759/cureus.32957.
Fleming, K. M. (2020). Acute effects of Pilates on emotional state in young adult men. Supplement The Med. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102313.
Franks, J. (2023). Pilates improves core muscle activation in chronic low back pain: a systematic review. Healthcare (Basel). doi:10.3390/healthcare11101404.
Vancini, R.L. (2017). Pilates and aerobic training can improve depression, anxiety levels and quality of life in overweight and obese people. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. doi:10.1590/0004-282X20170149.
Wells, C. (2012). Defining Pilates Exercise: A Systematic Review. Supplement The Med. 2012 Aug;20(4):253-62. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2012.02.005.
