"But isn't it just..... yoga?" Your Pilates questions answered.
Information on slcpt.com is meant for educational purposes only. The information provided is not meant to be diagnostic and does not replace thorough evaluation and treatment by a medical professional, including that of a physical therapist.
“What even IS Pilates?”
Pilates focuses on core strength and stability, spine and joint mobility, posture and alignment, and breath. While there is a component of joint mobility and muscle lengthening, every movement is cued to be active and engaged. Sometimes you will feel the burn. All the time you will feel connected, stable and strong!
“Why should I make time for yet another form of exercise?”
In Pilates, you will gain deep body awareness while building strength from the inside out. This foundation carries over to everyday life as well as participation in your favorite sport/activity. There are loads of accounts of athletes noticing measurable gains in their sport after incorporating Pilates into their repertoire.
“Do I need equipment?”
Not necessarily! Many Pilates classes are done on the Pilates Reformer and other equipment. I love the equipment, but a lot of the moves on the equipment are supported by the equipment. In other words, they are EASIER on the equipment! Don’t get me wrong, you can get a fantastic and hard workout on the equipment and, while the equipment is super fun, you don’t have to have it to get a GREAT Pilates workout! There are loads of resources to practice with only a mat and maybe some props you can find around you house!
“So, then it’s like… yoga?”
Pilates movements are different than yoga poses, and you generally do not hold poses for as long as in yoga. Both use breathing to facilitate movement but the style of breathing in Pilates is “in through the nose, out through the mouth” vs Inhaling and exhaling through the nose. Breath and body awareness makes Plates mindful and meditative, however Pilates is not based in a spiritual practice as is yoga (although I would argue any type of movement can be spiritual, depending on the practitioner!) Both Pilates and yoga are fantastic and serve different purposes for different movers.
“Why are your classes different?”
First off, I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy so my sequences and cuing come from my education and experience with common problems people deal with in our modern, busy lives. My style of teaching is derived from Pilates but also infuses strength-training and functional strength principles (strength you need for everyday life). In my classes, you will always get a full body workout that is intelligently programmed to make you feel better than when you started. I often bring a theme to class such as “posture” or “hip love” where we focus not only on getting away from the position you are in all day, but also on building strength to maintain great alignment and mitigate pain and tightness- AND you will still get a full body experience… because, surprise, your whole body is connected!!
“What if I am a beginner?”
Most classes I teach are for “all-levels” unless otherwise specified. I want this movement to be accessible, I want you to feel like you can do it. Period. I like to be able to tailor the class to the people in front of me and how they are feeling/ the vibe of the room. There will be hard stuff but I will ALWAYS throw out options for beginners or those wanting to take it easier.
“So, it is easy and I won’t feel it?”
Will my workouts leave you dying, a ball of sweat, ready to puke? Doubtful. Believe it or not, that’s NOT the only way to get a good workout! Side note: if you do enjoy those types of workouts, doing more introspective, detailed movement like Pilates is SUPER beneficial! And speaking of detail, it is known in Pilates circles that the more you do it, the harder it is!! This is because you begin to learn how to feel all the detail and the smaller, more nuanced movements and muscles. So, if it feels easy the first few times, stick with it and listen to the cues and I guarantee you will feel a difference as your body learns it!