How to Get a Grip in Pilates: Sticky Socks

Whether to wear socks or not in the pilates studio can be an oddly controversial topic.  Some studios think socks make it easy to slip off the machines.  They prefer people go sockless because that’s apparently how Joseph Pilates had his clients do it back in the 1920s.  (Most of the time the no-socksers are classically trained instructors who religiously try to do everything the way that J.P. did it back then.)  The rest of us teach in socks and recommend that students wear them for the simple reason that it’s more sanitary.  Would you want to put your bare feet where a stranger just had their bare, sweaty feet?  We spray off the surface of the machines all the time with antibacterial cleaner but when’s the last time you noticed your studio washing those reformer straps?

Sticky socks are a good compromise.  These are like gym socks with little rubbery knobs at the sole to help you keep your footing when on the footbar or the chair.  Some come in a toe sock style with little pockets for each toe.  The toe socks take some getting used to as they splay your toes out and make you look like you have monkey feet.  But if you can get used to them they actually feel quite comfortable and don’t slide around on your foot as much as normal socks.

You may want to carry your sticky socks separately to your pilates session like a spare pair of shoes.  They are very difficult to wear as regular socks with street shoes because the rubber knobs make it difficult to slip into and out of shoes.