Pilates myth number four... pilates is for girls... so, where to start with this one! Let’s being with the beginnings of pilates. Pilates was founded by a man, Joesph Pilates to be exact. He worked as a circus performer, boxer and self-defence instructor. He also refined his method during the first World War, where he developed the reformer we know today, regularly training soldiers. Moving to NYC, he set up a “body-conditioning gym” where he focused on improving the technique of his clients or aiding them in recovery from injury. And, in fact, during this time, 60% of his clients were men! Fast forward to today, and sportsmen and athletes the world over use pilates in their training, including the England football squad and many of the tennis champions at Wimbledon. Take a look around your gym and I guarantee that the serious weightlifters you see will also add in an element of pilates into their workout too, to ensure they keep range of movement and alignment when building muscles. Further still, the pilates circuit also boasts a number of awesome male pilates teachers (UK based Paul Howe and James Crader in the US being two of my personal faves) so, chaps, what are you waiting for? Why not join the elite sportsmen you were likely watching yesterday and give pilates a try! And maybe, just maybe the girls are onto something....
Pilates Myths Number Three
Pilates myth number three.... Pilates is going to make me look like a supermodel... Okay, so as a pilates teacher, I’ve lost count of how many celebrities list pilates as part of their fitness routine. And it’s true! Lots do indeed use it! But, here’s the thing... it’s often not the only thing. And that’s A okay! They use it as a tool within their toolbox to help them get stronger; to bring awareness to mind, body and soul; to help them get the most out of the body they have; to give them better alignment to help them look longer and leaner; to ensure they are fit for life. But chances are they are doing other things to get the physique they have, from other fitness activities to a clean and considered diet. I’ve recently had a wave of (potential) clients saying they want to lose weight... I do explain the benefits of pilates, but I’m also quick to point out that if your number one goal is weight loss, then perhaps they want to consider other things, sometimes instead, as well as in conjunction with, pilates. As a teacher, I firmly believe in listening to what a client wants, and being open and honest about whether pilates and myself can help. But, more importantly, I challenge them about what their motivation is behind this. I’m a big advocate of being strong, and this is where pilates can help. Not just for today but for later in life. Pilates, for me, is crucial to this. I’m also a promoter of body confidence, and as you become more comfortable in your own skin and proud of what you’re body can achieve - something which I truly believe pilates can offer - I see remarkable changes in my clients outlook on this. And this is where pilates is brilliant. Everyone can do it, regardless of age or fitness. As a very wise woman often says, “any body can be a pilates body”. And everyone can see and feel the differences in themselves as they progress. It’s the journey that makes this exciting rather than an end destination. For me, #strongisnotasize it’s a feeling. When I feel strong, I’m the most confident version of me. And I hope I make my clients feel the same way about themselves...
Pilates Myths Number Two
Pilates myths number two... pilates teachers only practise pilates... So, here’s the thing... yes, we are passionate about pilates, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only movement we do! And that is not a bad thing! Personally, I love spin and I love to lift heavy weights. I also work out with a personal trainer (kudos to Chris Horton, my PT at Virgin Chiswick for putting up with me!) I do this alongside my pilates practise and often break my gymtime into 20 mins cardio, 20 mins pilates and 40 mins weights. When you’re teaching 15 hours +, it’s important to look after your body, first and foremost, and that’s part of my reasoning. But I also believe it gives me a whole different style, and I often merge my gym work with my pilates to offer my clients something different. It also allows me to work with people who have another passion to the best of my ability; right now I’m working with a cycling fanatic, a tennis player and a weight lifter... pilates is part of their mix to make them more efficient (and less likely of injury)... I also feel our bodies need different things at different times, and any fitness regime should have variety in it. I encourage all my clients to try different things! Plus pilates is a great bedrock to ensure great technique in the gym too. I believe in this so much that I’m actually in the process of becoming a PT so I can merge these styles even more. So teachers, don’t be afraid of letting your clients know you do something else too! It might encourage them to try something different...
Pilates Myths Number One
There are a lot of myths around pilates and teaching... I thought it might be good to share my musings to see if it resonates with others, and also to give clients an insight into our world... so here goes myth no 1; a great teacher doesn’t need help in their own pilates practise...I’m a good teacher, who is confident in their abilities. But it doesn’t mean that I only do my own pilates workouts! I take regular classes from teachers I love; sometimes I go to teachers who I’ve never heard of; and sometimes my clients might find me next to them on a mat at my studio, The Wellness Cabin. Why? Because pilates is all about self development and trying new things. There is nothing more refreshing than finding a teacher who’s style resonates and inspires; that has you asking questions about how you do things. And my clients benefit from this, as I’m always bringing new things to the party! Pilates is also about precision and correction. My body is great at “cheating” exercises it doesn’t like, but really needs. A teacher is there to spot this and coax it in the right direction! So if you spot your teacher on the mat, and if you see them being corrected, it doesn’t mean we are a bad teacher! In fact, I believe it means the exact opposite...
