Okay, so everyone just loved the “how to do yoga while reading” video so much, and so I thought… hey, why not make these “how to” videos a bit of a series? Eh?

Thus, this brand new “how to do PILATES while reading” video was created so that you all can learn a quick and easy workout routine that’s totally possible to do while reading a physical book!

So, without wasting too much more time… here’s the video!

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In this pilates “class”, we go through a full body exercise routine with simple, repetitive motions. Two types of exercises for the arms, a few for the legs, hips, and thighs, and one final motion for the abs. Plus… my kitty, Mía, joins us as we get fit while reading!

How to Actually Do Pilates While You Read

Yes, it is totally possible… albeit tricky! Here’s a few tips to keep in mind though…

Choose VERY Simple Exercises

One of my biggest tips for beginners who want to try pilates (while reading or not) is to just keep things simple. Trust me, when it comes to any pilates routine, the simplest exercises are always the most effective.

This is because simpler exercises take less thought in terms of thinking of the actual movement, so you free up your mind to think about how your body is actually doing the movement (and whether or not you’re using your muscles correctly). For example, doing an exercise that just requires moving the arm up and down is going to take a lot less thought process than having to move it up and down, then side to side, then all around, etc.

Plus, with simpler exercises, you free up more “thought space” to focus on reading!

Start Each Movement BEFORE You Begin Reading

Even the simplest exercises may take a little bit of thought to get started, but, once you’ve got the motions down, you can repeat them over and over again without thinking about it. So, give your body a chance to get used to any movement before you incorporate reading into the picture… otherwise, you might feel a little like you’re patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time.

Again, simple movements that you can just repeat quite a few times a minute (like we do in the video above) will be best for simultaneous reading!

Plan Your Routine Before BEGINNING

Having a set routine mapped out before you begin the routine is crucial to, again, free up your mind. And… you can totally play the En Vogue song in the background now…

When we have a routine planned out though, we don’t have to take more time in between each movement to pause and think about what exercise to do next. If you don’t have a pilates routine that you’re used to yet, I recommend writing down a list of exercises that you want to do for your routine, then referencing that list as you workout.

And, if you’re not sure what a good pilates routine may look like for you, just check out the video above to get some ideas or to follow along with me!

How to Read While Doing Pilates FAQ

What Pilates Exercises Can I Do While Reading?

Any exercise that frees up at least one of your hands will allow you to read at the same time. Because… yeah, you’ve gotta hold the book somehow.

Again, though, the best exercises are ones that repeat simple motions over and over again. Check out the video above for some good ideas of these, but also know that you can get creative and think up your own motions, too!

Can I Use Weights While Reading?

Certainly, you can use weights while you read! Just make sure that you always keep one hand free of weights so that you can read at the same time.

For example, in the video above, I suggest using wrist and/or ankle weights that strap-on if you want to add more difficulty to the routine. That way, you’ve still got your hands free at all times.

Can’t I Just Listen to an Audiobook While Doing Pilates?

Of course, you can always listen to an audiobook while doing other things… including pilates!

Listening to an audiobook while you workout will free up both of your hands so that you can do more hands-on exercises (like planks… if you’re feeling ambitious!). However, I still recommend keeping the exercises simple so that you can focus on the words of the audiobook instead of the complexity of the movements.

You can also listen to an audiobook while following along with the video above by just muting the video and following along with the routine visually.

What if the Pilates Routine is Too Difficult?

No worries if the guides pilates video above is too hard on your muscles, because I’ve got a little trick that will make it even easier for you…

You can always just set the video speed to be somewhat faster, either at 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, or even 2x quicker. That way, you’ll actually be able to follow along with general routine while making it easier on yourself by spending, say, one minute doing a movement rather than two.

If you do speed things up, just don’t worry about keeping up your rhythm with me in the video… because that would mean doing way too many reps in half the time!

Let me know in the comments, everyone, either here or over on YouTube if you enjoy following along with the pilates reading routine! Plus, if you’d like to see more videos like this in the future… let me know that, too!

Because I may have an idea for another one of these “reading classes” up my sleeve already…

–Kari