When I tell people that I teach Pilates, these are their usual responses:
‘Is that like yoga?’
‘I would do that but I don’t have the time.’
‘I’ve always wanted to try, but I’m not flexible enough.’
I thought I would address the misconceptions surrounding Pilates that I’ve heard since the first day I began training to be an instructor.
1. Pilates And Yoga Are The Same
Pilates and yoga complement one another, but they’re not the same thing. Many clients who do Pilates also do yoga, and many yoga studios also offer Pilates classes. Pilates is focused on constant movement, and yoga can be more static as you hold poses for longer periods of time. They are both good practices, though they’re not the same.
2. Pilates Is Time-Consuming
If you don’t make the time to exercise when you’re well, or to rehab an injury, you’ll be spending far more time (and likely money) down the line on surgeries and specialist healthcare. Even twenty minutes a day of mat Pilates makes a difference to your pain and discomfort, and helps to maintain your health.
I recently taught a twenty-minute online mat class to two clients who only had twenty minutes, and I spent ten minutes on their shoulders and ten on their hips. They both felt better. If you can’t find an hour a day to do Pilates, you can stretch on the mat for twenty minutes, and it does make a difference.
3. Pilates Is An Exclusive Club For Bendy People
When people tell me, ‘I’d do that, but I’m not flexible enough,’ I tell them that if there were a trophy for the world’s most inflexible person, I would get it. Flexibility is not a requirement to begin Pilates. You The most broken, injured, stiff, inflexible person is the one who needs Pilates the most. In fact, most clients come in at the referral of the physiotherapist when they’ve been injured, and then they use it as a form of exercise when they’ve recovered. Show up as you are, in all of your broken and exhausted messiness, and you’ll feel better after class.
4. Pilates Costs Too Much
Would you rather pay for a weekly group Pilates class or a giant hospital bill?
Make your coffee at home in the morning. Batch cook your meals and order in less often. Walk or bike somewhere rather than getting another Uber. Perhaps give up one of the seven monthly streaming services you subscribe to. Making small trade-offs here and there not only give you more money for Pilates, but help you to maintain a healthier lifestyle.
5. Pilates Is Difficult
Pilates can look intimidating because of the equipment, but it’s been designed to feel easy, comfortable, and relaxing. No instructor will put you through pain. If an exercise is too hard or painful, we adjust. That’s why we’re instructors: to help you feel well and have the most stress-free experience possible.
Many clients tell me that they thought Pilates would cause them pain or be too hard but, once they try a few classes, they realize how much fun it is. It’s something they look forward to, and they progress quickly. They see and feel the benefits because their body needs the healing.
Book an introductory class with me here to try Pilates.
I don’t mind the assumptions you might have – I’ll work with you and we’ll disprove them together.