{"id":592536,"date":"2026-08-14T00:40:26","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T00:40:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/592536\/"},"modified":"2026-08-14T00:40:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T00:40:26","slug":"i-tried-pilates-by-izzy-home-workouts-for-a-year-my-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/592536\/","title":{"rendered":"I Tried Pilates By Izzy Home Workouts For A Year: My Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was nearly a year ago that I first met Izzy Samuel<\/a>. By met, I mean that I tuned into her sun-soaked studio from my living room, where I was all set to take on day one of her 25-day Pilates challenge<\/a>. At the time, I had no idea what to expect. Her workouts<\/a> had come highly recommended for being challenging, effective and efficient, but, wedded to my studio Reformer membership, my expectations remained relatively low.<\/p>\n

It was to my surprise, then, that 25 days later, I\u2019d fallen hard and fast for Pilates<\/a> by Izzy. My body feeling sore but strong, I was blown away by how much muscle tone I\u2019d built in just three and a half weeks. Aside from a short burst of social connection, I\u2019d missed very little about going to the studio, and had saved myself more than \u00a3100 on membership fees and post-class coffees.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s why, nearly a year later, I\u2019m still committed to my thrice-weekly YouTube classes with Izzy. From 15-minute express workouts to 55-minute studio-style sessions, there\u2019s a huge catalogue of classes which have fitted seamlessly into my frequently chaotic schedule.<\/p>\n

Ahead, everything I\u2019ve discovered in my year of Pilates by Izzy and my all-time favourite classes for you to bookmark. Plus, a renowned Pilates instructor weighs in on what makes Samuel\u2019s workouts so effective, and how to know if home Pilates is right for you.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking to expand your Pilates practice, we\u2019ve got guides to the best advanced Pilates moves<\/a>, the best exercises for your core<\/a>, and how to master the notoriously challenging Pilates Teaser<\/a>. Plus, find out how Pilates compares to the trending Lagree method<\/a>; a strength and postural workout which provides a serious burn.<\/p>\n

You may like<\/p>\n

Pilates by Izzy Blends Pilates with Strength\u2014And I\u2019m Completely ConvertedWhat are Pilates by Izzy workouts?<\/p>\n

We all know Pilates is good for us – studies<\/a> frequently find evidence of its power to strengthen your core, balance, posture and functional mobility. But Izzy\u2019s classes are a departure from the classical sequence, incorporating more contemporary and strength-based flows which you wouldn\u2019t find in a traditional mat class.<\/p>\n

\u201cIzzy infuses Pilates with barre, strength, and functional fitness, which adds creativity and variety to her classes,\u201d confirmed Pilates Instructor and Founder of Aether Spaces<\/a>, Jo-Leigh Morris<\/a>, when I spoke to her last year.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s this which makes her classes so popular, says Pilates Instructor, Eloise Skinner<\/a>. \u201cAs Pilates has risen in popularity, many people have started to look for variations on the classical sequence. Izzy\u2019s blend of strength, form, control and precision meets that need, with formats like her challenges, which inspire people to get involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samuel has an app, Strong by Izzy<\/a>, with a library of over 300 workouts which you can access for \u00a329.69 per month. So far though, I\u2019ve managed a full year using her free YouTube classes alone, so I\u2019d recommend starting there before investing.<\/p>\n

Who are Pilates by Izzy workouts best for?<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no denying that Samuel\u2019s classes are on the advanced side of home Pilates, which means you\u2019ll want to build up some experience before trying them, especially because many of her classes incorporate weights.<\/p>\n

What to read next<\/p>\n

\u201cSafe use of weights depends on correct form, which is best to check in a studio environment first before progressing your practice at home,\u201d confirms Skinner. \u201cFor those with a bit of experience and who want to get started with more challenging home workouts, I’d still recommend building up the intensity over time, and don’t forget that cool-down and recovery routines still matter, even when you’re not in the studio.\u201d<\/p>\n

As I\u2019ve quickly discovered, Pilates by Izzy is great for anyone short on time or with an inconsistent schedule. \u201cHome classes are more convenient, cheaper, easier to schedule around other commitments, better for those with additional responsibilities like childcare and enable you to work out in whatever you feel comfortable wearing without worrying about what others might think,\u201d says Skinner. \u201cThey also allow you to repeat certain sections, personalise your practice and amend things like duration, equipment and intensity level to fit your current situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Five Pilates by Izzy Workouts To Try This Month:1. 15 minute deep core workout<\/p>\n

What? An express class targeting the deep core muscles using the Pilates ball.<\/p>\n

How long? 15 minutes.<\/p>\n

15 MINUTE DEEP CORE WORKOUT | Intermediate – Advanced Core Workout with Optional Equipment – YouTube
\n\"15<\/p>\n

Watch On <\/a>
\n2. 25 minute upper body Pilates workout<\/p>\n

What? A deceptively challenging upper-body-focused workout using light hand weights.<\/p>\n

How long? 25 minutes.<\/p>\n

25 DAY PILATES CHALLENGE | DAY 5 | WEIGHTED UPPER BODY WORKOUT | Strength x Pilates Workout – YouTube
\n\"25<\/p>\n

Watch On <\/a>
\n3. 30 minute glute workout<\/p>\n

What? A glute-focused lower-body burn with plenty of bridging and side-lying.<\/p>\n

How long? 30 minutes.<\/p>\n

25 DAY CHALLENGE SEASON 2 | DAY 24 30 MIN GLUTE STRENGTH WORKOUT | No Standing | Intermediate – YouTube
\n\"25<\/p>\n

Watch On <\/a>
\n4. 40 minute full body Pilates workout<\/p>\n

40 MIN FULL BODY WORKOUT | Intermediate – Advanced Pilates Inspired Workout with Weights – YouTube
\n\"40<\/p>\n

Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n

What? A signature Pilates by Izzy workout – plenty of core, lower and upper body moves to torch your whole body.<\/p>\n

How long? 40 minutes.<\/p>\n

5. 50 minute full body strength workout<\/p>\n

What? A full-body strength workout using light handweights, targeting the glutes, core and upper body.<\/p>\n

How long? 50 minutes.<\/p>\n

50 MIN FULL BODY STRENGTH WORKOUT | Intermediate Workout with Weights | Pilates x Strength – YouTube
\n\"50<\/p>\n

Watch On <\/a>
\nI Gave Up My Studio Pilates Classes for Pilates by Izzy\u2014Now I\u2019m Stronger Than EverMonths one to six<\/p>\n

Having completed the 25-day challenge last September, I toyed with the idea of returning to the studio. But looking at the positive change to my bank balance and my ever-shifting calendar, I came to the conclusion that my new home set-up suited me too well to give up. Plus, I had a whole library of Samuel\u2019s classes to explore (at the time of writing, she has 118 videos on her channel).<\/p>\n

At first, I really was obsessed, and would do Izzy\u2019s classes five to six times a week. Some days, it was just a 15-minute express session tagged onto the end of a morning walk or jog, and other days it was a longer 40-minute class that formed the entirety of my exercise for that day.<\/p>\n

My favourites, though, were the 25-30 minute classes. Short enough to be manageable whatever your mood or level of motivation, but providing a burn over and above what you\u2019d expect for their length, I found that they\u2019d often provide a gateway into movement. It plays into that whole \u2018just do it for five minutes\u2019 theory. I\u2019d start the class feeling sluggish and by the end would be clicking \u2018watch next\u2019 raring for more.<\/p>\n

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\"A\n<\/p>\n

As Ash discovered, the light hand weights used in Pilates by Izzy workouts provide a surprisingly intense workout<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Ashleigh Spiliopoulou)<\/p>\n

In those first few months, the classes would frequently push me to my limit, even as someone who\u2019d been going to studio classes for years. This was particularly the case in the upper body sessions, where the pulses and progressions seemed to verge on endless. Often I\u2019d modify or pause the video to give my muscles a break – something I\u2019d encourage as you build up to Samuel\u2019s intensity.<\/p>\n

Months six to twelve<\/p>\n

By six months of consistent Pilates by Izzy, I\u2019d noticed huge changes to my strength. I could handle pretty much any progression she threw at me (not without complaint, mind you), and hardly ever needed to pause the video or drop the weights.<\/p>\n

I was aware, however, that I\u2019d become a bit reliant on home Pilates classes and had begun to neglect lifting at the gym and, to an extent, cardio. Conscious of the need to lift heavy to protect my bone health and muscle mass, and to keep up the cardio for long-term heart health, I did reduce my Pilates by Izzy sessions to three days a week, with the now spare days dedicated to the gym and a weekly swim.<\/p>\n

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\"A\n<\/p>\n

After six months, Ash started integrating the gym back into her routine alongside Pilates by Izzy<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Ashleigh Spiliopoulou)<\/p>\n

Since then, I\u2019ve found the combination to be my sweet spot: weekly Pilates, running, swimming and weights serve me really well. I feel strong, fit, energised and, importantly, I\u2019m rarely bored of movement. Involving a social element through the gym and running has also given me back the crucial connective element of exercise which I\u2019d started to miss since leaving the studio, without the same price tag as Reformer classes. Occasionally, I still book a one-off class – if you enjoy it, there\u2019s absolutely no harm – but from a body composition and strength perspective, I\u2019m wholeheartedly convinced that Pilates by Izzy is as good as anything I\u2019ve done in the studio.<\/p>\n

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Ankle weights are a staple in Pilates by Izzy workouts. My go-to are these ones from Bala. They’re comfy, cute and add a deceptive layer of intensity to your Pilates practice.<\/p>\n