Anyone do Pilates specifically for climbing?

I do a ton of core work and yoga, but while climbing the other day, a climbing partner I have a lot of respect for mentioned that Pilates might be helpful. He made the argument it’s less about core strength and more about body control and alignment. Anyways, I’ve got a ton of studios nearby but I’m just wondering if anyone has any thoughts. It’s mountainproject so I’m sure there will be some thoughts, whether they are helpful and/or relevant is another issue entirely.

The yoga classes I used to take mixed in Pilates and overall I felt the exercises were a great compliment to climbing. I think it is worth taking a class to see what you think and how you feel.

Pilates Reformer (the machine is the reformer) is great.  Lots of one legged, or one armed motions that force you to stabilize through your core.  The reformer is amazing for supporting all the muscles in your body except the one that is getting isolated and is on fire.  It feels very safe and comfortable and can simultaneously be incredibly challenging.  I think TRX is really ideal for climbing.  Doing the exercises on one foot forces core engagement.  And, you are long and extended like climbing.  TRX is "harder" than reformer and provides more opportunity to hurt yourself.

I have done yoga and core stuff for years. I started doing youtube mat pilates classes during the lockdown times and was seriously blown away by how much I felt it improved my climbing.

I think your buddy’s point about body control is spot on- I felt like these classes were working out my nervous system more than my body (though it does work your body too).

A lot of the exercises involve keeping just the necessary tension to hold your body in a position while really freely articulating one part of your body, which it turns out is fucking fantastic for clipping. Tenuous clipping stances on limit routes used to sometimes feel really sketchy. Now I feel like if I am in a position, I can hold it no question while I move one arm around.

Really can’t recommend it enough.

Links to my favorite pilates YouTubers:

move with Nicole

Lottie Murphy

I have been practicing pilates for a little while now and definitely feel that it has helped add some balance to my body, increased mobility and helped strengthen my core. I'm a big fan of Robin Long on youtube and even though I'm a male I really like the postpartum classes! She has a bunch of videos and differenet types of classes and I really like how she explains in depth the subtle nuances that each position or movement requires.

https://www.youtube.com/@wearelindywell/featured