This may seem a strange question to ask about an exercise method that was invented almost a century ago and has had a devoted following for many long decades. But the answer is simple: no. And so is the reason: Because it works. Joseph Pilates always said that his method was 50 years ahead of his time. The current growth in popularity of Pilates is simply the fulfillment of his longstanding prediction.

With regular committed Pilates workouts you can expect to:

• Tone and build long, lean muscles without bulk
• Challenge deep abdominal muscles to support the core
• Engage the mind and enhance body awareness
• Efficient patterns of movement making the body less prone to injury
• Reduce stress, relieve tension, boost energy
• Restore postural alignment
• Create a stronger, more flexible spine
• Promote recovery from strain or injury
• Increase joint range of motion
• Improve circulation
• Heighten neuromuscular coordination
• Offer relief from back pain and joint stress
• Correct over-training of muscle groups which can lead to stress and injury
• Enhance mobility, agility and stamina
• Compliment sports training and develop functional fitness for daily life activity
• Improve the way your body looks and feels

You should start with a private session with an instructor who will discuss and assess your medical history and your exercise goals. You are then guided through a Pilates workout where your physical condition is assessed and a program is tailored to suit your needs. You can continue with private sessions or you can work in small group-sessions (1 instructor with up to 4 clients) where you work on your customized program. These sessions are generally 50 minutes and you will continue to be guided, monitored and progressed safely on an individual basis. Your Pilates Professional will let you know when you are ready for beginner Pilates Mat classes or Pilates Reformer Classes.

The Pilates Reformer is the most well known piece of Pilates equipment. It is a bed like frame with moveable carriage where a person sits or reclines and does his or her stretching, is an excellent way of exercising without hurting the joints while strengthening muscles. To attend a group reformer class you should have at least five (3) Private lessons from a Pilates professional or attended a specially designed Reformer Introduction class. You should be aware of the names of basic reformer exercises and how to adjust Reformer settings should you need to. Classes should be no more than 7 people to work in unison with a staff member directing class and assisting in corrections. This class is geared toward those who attend private lessons and want to work out at a steady pace with limited personal attention.

Wear comfortable but snug fitting clothing (Ladies – leotards, tights and T Shirt, Men – bike shorts with shorts and T Shirt). Pilates is basically non-aerobic so bring a sweatshirt with you just in case. For hygiene requirements, please bring a small towel and clean socks – you don’t need gym shoes. Please do not where excessive perfume or use body lotion. If you are attending a Pilates Mat Class I would recommend that you bring your own mat. Having your own mat will also allow you to work out at home.

Pilates can be beneficial for virtually all ages, fitness levels and body conditions. Pilates is still popular with dancers, gymnasts, athletes and others in their physical prime but it is equally suitable for almost any age. Indeed, one of the beauties of Pilates is that we tailor it to suit each personage and physical condition. Many of our clients are middle-aged or elderly. Indeed, more than a few start doing Pilates specifically because they have reached ‘a certain age,’ realized that they no longer take any exercise and suddenly thought, ‘My goodness, I have to start to do something, or else I’ll fall apart.’ Older clients still might have to ask medical advice before taking up Pilates and to start more slowly. Many people, however, do Pilates into their eighties and nineties. A properly tailored Pilates program is one of the best-known ways to ward off the infirmities of old age.

Far from it. Pilates, after all, was invented by a man, Joseph Pilates, originally for his own benefit – and was only later adapted for women. Men, what’s more, tend to be less flexible than women, and so to need Pilates even more. In fact countless celebrity devotees of Pilates, from Hugh Grant to Martin Amis, John Cleese, Ian McKellen, Patrick Swayze, and an ever-growing number of famous footballers, rugby players, cricketers and other professional athletes.

It’s not a matter of one being better than another. The fundamental Pilates workout can be performed on a mat alone, and great results can be achieved through beginner, intermediate and advanced moves. However, the various equipment pieces such as the Reformer, Cadillac and Chair incorporate light spring resistance that works like concentric and eccentric muscle contractions to safely sculpt tone and stretch the muscles. The various Barrels provide support that allows you to safely manipulate your body to stretch and engage muscles otherwise challenging to isolate. Smaller Pilates equipment pieces such resistance bands, circles and balls also provide an element of variety and focus to a Pilates regimen. A complete and satisfying workout can involve exercises on the mat alone or can be combined with various pieces of specially designed Pilates equipment. Each session can offer variety so that no two workouts are alike.

Try to work out 2-4 times a week, taking a day off in between sessions to rest or enjoy some kind of cardiovascular activity (walking, bicycling, and swimming). This kind of regular, consisten
t practice will help you make the mind-body connection and integrate the various Pilates principles (list). You should start seeing and feeling results in about 10 to 15 sessions.

Pilates instructors are highly trained professionals who have invested hundreds of hours studying the technique. They learn over 500 exercises for both the mat and Pilates equipment. They learn the philosophy and theory behind each movement, spend considerable time observing and mastering proper form and sequences, and apprentice to fine tune their teaching skills prior to taking a rigorous written and practical exam.

They learn more than just a series of moves; they learn how to assess their students’ posture, how to adapt exercises for various body conditions, and how to customize the optimum Pilates program for each individual. This kind of specialized training, combined with the expenses of furnishing a fully equipped studio, commands a $40 to $80 per hour price range. Pilates reformers and other equipment are expensive.

Although similar to yoga exercise, Pilates requires you to set a posture and then challenge the torso by moving the limbs, whereas yoga will move from one static posture to another with no repetitions. Joseph Pilates was inspired by both eastern and western forms while developing his method, so there are many similarities. The breathing is different, and you are asked to pull your stomach in rather than allowing it to fill with breath. Pilates is also movement, rather than the holding of postures that is yoga.

Practicing Pilates on a regular basis will help you to achieve a healthier body and mind. As a runner you can expect to build long, strong muscles, improve flexibility and lessen your chance for injuries. The way Pilates opens up the vertebrae in the lower back, in particular, helps to prevent the sort of back injuries which can result from constant impact involved in running.

Physically you can expect to:

• Lose inches

• Increase mobility and flexibility, in the low back, shoulders, and hips

• Improve balance and coordination

• Decrease back pain and stiffness

• Improve your posture

• Achieve a flatter stomach

• Shorten recovery time following strenuous activity

Mentally you can expect to:

• Gain body awareness

• Improve focus and stimulate the mind

• De-stress the body and mind

Yes! Thanks to its basic principles, the Pilates method can be used for orthopedic rehabilitation. The control needed in all of the exercises and the synergy between the abdominals and the lower back help reduce the risk of injuries and relieve back pain. Most of the exercises are carried out in a horizontal position or sitting, so that spine joints are never stressed and bad postures are avoided. A correct posture not only means elegance of movements but, most important, releases spine from bad postural habits so that you may become a few centimeters taller!

Pilates requires precision, control and concentration in order to create movement that is fluid, easy and rewarding. Unlike some workouts, Pilates requires you to continuously think about what you are doing. As a result, you’ll find your Pilates workouts absorbing and even rejuvenating. It may be the one hour of your day when you’re able let go of everything except the present moment.

Absolutely. There’s no age limit in the practice of the Pilates method, as many of the very first pupils of Joseph Pilates show. Indeed, despite being 70 and 80, they are fit and still working – among this Lolita San Miguel, founder of the Puerto Rican Ballet Concierto, who was certified officially by Joseph Pilates. The Pilates method works against the natural “stiffening” we all suffer from when getting older. Exercises improve flexibility, stretching and toning up muscles.

In essence, Pilates exercise is not a cardiovascular workout and burning calories is not its main focus. However, in conjunction with a sensible diet and some cardio work such as brisk walking, bicycling, aerobics or swimming, Pilates can factor into a weight loss program. The Winsor Pilates video series has a faster paced program performed in a particular order they call “dynamic sequencing.” They claim this can give a boost to the metabolism and help one lose inches. Pilates exercises help strengthen, sculpt and tone the body while building long, lean muscles. Whether the number on the scale goes down or not, you will tend to look and feel better through continued Pilates practice.

If you have any sort of back or joint problem you should always check with your doctor or specialist before embarking on any new exercise program. However, Pilates is recognized as being of particular benefit to many back problems. By using and developing the strength of the deep abdominal muscles, the supportive spinal muscles, the muscles of the pelvic floor and the stabilizing muscles of the upper back and shoulder area, you will learn to correct your posture, reduce strain and stress and realign the body. Your back will get stronger and your pain will gradually reduce.