July 2023- As a pilates instructor I hear A LOT of things said about Pilates that are simply not true. I guess it's fair that everyone has their own opinion based on their life experience, but today I really want to debunk some myths that are sooooo wrong and that make me eye roll every.single.time 🙄
Ummm….no!
Pilates is for humans. You, me, everyone.
Pilates simply means controlled exercise where you are concentrating and thinking about the movement you are performing & executing it correctly for your body, to illicit a response.
At the moment, the people I’m seeing benefiting the most from Pilates are MEN! In particular the big burly blokes from the local footy club (check out my socials for visual proof 🤣) I have them on a very specific, progressive Pilates program to help keep them strong and injury free. They are starting to see the benefit of isolated mat moves (that they too once thought were “for girls”).
I’m also training a 100KG gym junkie who has only worked his upper body at the gym due to his 3 slipped discs in his lumbar spine. He hasn’t been able to squat or deadlift for the last 15 years. We’re taking right back to pilates moves on the mat to get glutes, hammies & core strong & firing like they should.
I’ve debunked this one first because it’s my fave myth!
Again, a big fat NO.
Back to those big burly blokes- they run around the footy field like it’s a walk in the park. But get them on the mat and I literally see the tears roll down their cheeks. (Secretly I love this 🤣). It is not easy. They are working muscles which were previously not used to being isolated and strengthened. They are working hard. And boy do they let me know about it!
Now this is not about some sadistic pleasure I get from causing pain. I’m not after pain, as such. I want the muscles to work. I’m trying to recruit as many muscle fibers as possible for that particular muscle group to help strengthen it. So, no it’s not easy.
There is so much more to Pilates than stretching.
Whilst I love to incorporate a good stretch into my workouts, stretching itself is not going to bring about long term change to that muscle. It may assist in recovery and may help you feel good, but it ain’t going to change you. Again, I’m trying to recruit muscle fibers to work. As many as possible. I want to strengthen your muscles by loading them. Are you with me?
This is an easy one- NO!
You can perform pilates with zero equipment.
Yes, I do like to spice it up with a chi ball, some light dumbbells, a Pilates ring or even a yoga block every now and again, but Pilates does not require crazy amounts of equipment. Your body weight is often enough. Just ask those footy boys!
And that’s why it’s a fantastic way to work out from home. All you need is your mat. You can slowly build up your repertoire of basic equipment, but you can start with minimal props.
Smart movement made simple.
That’s what you’ll get from my online pilates platform.
As I always say, a regular home based pilates practice can be life changing. Try it out for yourself here…
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