As a Pilates instructor I often get asked the same questions over and over again. The following are a few of the most common asked, I trust this will clear up some of your questions…
It’s Too Hard
Pilates can be a challenging exercise movement, but with the correct instruction you will learn to engage the correct muscles and use the breathing pattern to support yourself. This will accelerate your results and progress in no time.
You Need Equipment
Jospeh Pilates first created the movements in a hospital bed by rigging up pullies to help the patients exercise. He then went onto create a range of apparatus that can be access through a Pilates studio. He also invented the mat program that you can find in many gyms & studios today. The mat programs offer hundreds of different workouts to accommodate every level of fitness. There are also ‘small apparatus’ such as balls, magic circle & bands that can be used as an extra to add extra intensity and support.
Pilate’s Only Works Your Core
Pilates does build core strength, though Joseph Pilates always designed his exercises as a workout for the whole body. He believed the more muscles you use to perform a movement, the more efficient the movement would be. This creates a system of functional strength that applies to all movements. The Pilates method teaches a balance of strength and flexibility and the uniform development of our bodies as a whole.
Is Only For Flexible People
You don’t have to be flexible to do Pilates, that is one of the benefits you will gain in time by doing Pilates regularly; It is an inherent part of Pilates training. The exercises are geared to improve flexibility and a greater range of motion. And for those people who are overly flexible, the core conditioning creates joint stability so the goal is a balance of strength and flexibility. All exercises can be modified or adapted to suit each individual’s flexibility level.
Is Only For Young Fit People
One of the beautiful things about Pilates, is that it is for everyone, including children athletes, seniors, or mums to be. There are also classes and private sessions for the rehabilitation of knee injuries, back problems, hip replacements and more, often taught by physical therapists. Pilates programs address scoliosis, arthritis and osteoporosis as well as specialized sports programs for equestrians, runners and golfers. Simply put, there is a style or modification available for all levels, almost all injuries and most health issues. Pilates can truly be enjoyed by just about everyone.
Pilates is Just For Women
These days more women than men participate in Pilates but Pilates was originally designed by a man (Joseph Pilates) and for men. Pilates himself was a boxer and circus performer, and he trained both Scotland Yard and the Hamburg Military Police in self-defense and physical training before imigrating to New York in 1926. His studio was near the New York City Ballet so many dancers went to him for both physical rehabilitation and injury prevention. Many male sports teams are incorporating Pilates exercises into their cross training programs, and they also appreciate the many rehabilitative benefits Pilates offers.
Is Like Yoga
While the goal of uniting body, mind and spirit may be the same in both techniques, getting there is quite a different path depending on which mat-based routine you practice. Yoga and Pilates approach movement differently; have different breathing styles; and utilize very different exercises—although there are some overlaps in these movements. In contrast to yoga, Pilates offers more than just mat-based work; Joseph Pilates invented several pieces of equipment (such as the reformer, Cadillac, tower, barrel and more) in the early 1900s that are still used in Pilate’s classes today.
Is Too Easy
Pilates is only easy if you aren’t doing the exercises properly, when done correctly, you will engage many more muscle groups than most exercises. If you are going through the motions without applying the principles of control, centering, concentration and precision, it may feel easy—but you are not really doing Pilates. Properly performed, the exercises should be challenging and rejuvenating for all fitness levels. Because the exercises engage the deepest core muscles, you need to understand how to do them properly to get the most benefit. That’s why it’s great to take a class with a qualified instructor who can watch and correct your form as needed.
