Good Pilates is not just about copying the movement on the screen. Many exercises require you to control the position of your pelvis and lower back while your arms or legs are moving. If your back arches, rounds or your pelvis tilts without you realising, you may perform the exercise very differently from how it was intended.

One of the biggest benefits of Pilates is learning to control and strengthen specific muscles. However, simply completing the movement does not guarantee the intended muscles are doing the work. Poor technique can cause other areas, such as the lower back, neck or hip flexors, to take over.

Good technique is often easier at the beginning of an exercise. As your muscles fatigue, your back may begin to arch or round, your pelvis may tilt, or other muscles may compensate. This means the final repetitions can look very different from the first without you even realising.

Pilates needs to progress as you become stronger and more controlled. If exercises are always too easy, your progress may stall. If you move to advanced exercises too quickly, your technique can break down and you may start compensating.

Doing random Pilates videos can keep you active, but it does not always create steady progress. A good programme should gradually develop your control, strength, mobility and confidence rather than starting from scratch every time you exercise.

The best Pilates session is not always the longest or hardest one. You need classes that match your current ability, goals and the time you actually have available. A session that is too difficult may affect technique, while one that is too easy may not challenge you enough.

Pilates works best when it is done consistently. One excellent session every few weeks is unlikely to create the same improvements as regular practice. The biggest challenge for many people exercising at home is not knowing what to do; it is maintaining momentum over time.

One hidden problem with exercising at home is decision fatigue. Constantly searching for a workout can become a barrier in itself. Having a clear calendar or plan removes the guesswork and makes it easier to simply start.

When you attend an in-person class, you can often ask the instructor a question. At home, a small uncertainty about an exercise can lead to you skipping it, doing it incorrectly or losing confidence altogether. Access to reliable support can make a big difference.

Watching an instructor perform an exercise is very different from knowing that you are doing it correctly yourself. A lack of confidence can cause people to avoid certain movements, stay with very basic exercises or constantly wonder whether they may be doing something wrong.

Completing workouts is not the same as progressing. Over time, Pilates should help you feel stronger, more controlled and more confident in how you move. You should also be able to notice that exercises that once felt difficult become easier or more controlled.