Not only does Pilates give you a rockin' core and lean muscles, it's also a great activity for people with injuries and the focus on the abdominals really helped improve my core awareness in yoga.

However, it took me awhile to warm up to Pilates. In my first group class, the movements all seemed weird, useless or too small. I remember thinking, "I missed yoga for this?" It wasn't until I had the opportunity to do private sessions that I got it.

I asked my good friend and Pilates instructor Angie Palomo to give us a few basic Pilates pointers. These 3 tips: pulling your abs in and up, breathing from the back and hugging the midline, took my practice from blah to wow. 

I highly encourage anyone interested in Pilates to do at least a few private sessions, it will make your mat classes and home workouts much more effective.