Let’s Rethink the Burn into Movement that Supports You

Thank you so much to all of my new Pilates movers and to everyone who has stepped into a class with me recently. I’m grateful you’re here.

I’ve taken many movement classes over the years, and one thing I hear far too often from instructors is an obsession with “the burn” or “the shake.”
Here’s the truth: those sensations are not indicators of progress, strength, or challenge. And honestly, I’d be very wary of any instructor who makes the burn the point.

You will never hear me celebrate that. Why? Because it doesn’t actually tell you anything meaningful about your body or your movement. This is how I teach Pilates differently.

What I do want you to focus on is intention.
The purpose behind every rep.
The way you organize your body.
Finding your strongest, cleanest form — not perfect, but yours.

Form is always our goal at Courtney Peper Pilates. Not perfection. Not punishment. Not performance.
It’s a long-term relationship with your body, one that changes day to day. And that’s okay.

When you begin to move with more awareness and better alignment, something interesting happens: the exercises become more effective and, yes, more challenging — but in a way that supports you rather than overwhelms you.

So no, it’s not about the burn.
It’s not about the shake.
It’s about clarity. Connection. Intention. And learning how to move in a way that serves you today, tomorrow, and long into the future.

If this approach resonates with you, come experience it in your own body.
Book your next session or try a class this week — let’s move smarter, not harder.

Happy Holidays, Courtney Peper