What is the Metabolic Intensity of Pilates

The participants attended two half-hour Pilates exercise classes twice a week, for one month, to familiarize themselves with the exercises and to learn the 5 Pilates' principles. After the learning period, two experimental sessions were performed: a Mat Pilates session and a Reformer apparatus Pilates session. The order of each session was randomized and drawn beforehand. Each experimental session lasted about one and a half hours and the interval between the sessions was 48 hours. Participants were asked to not perform any exercise and to refrain from food or fluids except water eight hours prior to each experimental session. Prior to the start of the experimental sessions, participants received a standard breakfast of 321 kcal that was 76% (61 g) carbohydrate, 8% (6,7 g) protein, 16% (5,9) fat, provided by the study researchers. All sessions were conducted at the same time in the morning, and the room temperature (22°C) and humidity (40-50%) were controlled during the whole session.