The positives of Pilates

[Mammawilson]

I just want to know the positives really, from people who have had good results from doing it on a regular basis.

I have just had my first class today and absolutely loved it but im not fully aware of the benefits as pretty new to exercise, im 3 stone overweight but also doing other classes as i assume Pilates is more about strength and toning.

[SheisMammyof2]

For me Pilates is essential to maintaining my back pain free. I've gone from literally not being able to tie my shoe laces without excruciating pain to being pain free 95% of the time just from regular Pilates classes. It's the combination of stretching and building core strength that works for me. I also love it which is a nice side benefit.

[TriSkiRun99]

For me post babies it took 5inches off my waist over a year along with walking and reducing my food intake. I was struggling with disc back problems and Pilates really helped to strengthen my core. To lose weight 80-90% of it is reducing food intake along with exercise to tone, strengthen and build fitness. I lost 3st on my maternity year, alas over 7years I’ve regained 2st despite running 25km a week along with swimming but I eat too much despite being fitter than ever. Good luck.

[sauvignonblancplz]

Pilates is essential to flexibility , core strength and keeping your body aligned.
When you first begin it’s hard to really feel like you’re doing anything , however a good teacher should be able to guide you in terms of how you should be breath and how to stabilise your core.
When it’s done correctly you should be sore and it should be hard work in the class.
Keep at it.

[Pollaidh]

It's great for posture and strength, not so good for cardio, which you would need to do in addition.

I have serious back problems so pilates is recommended by my physio - many of the physio exercises are pilates-based.

Make sure you get a good teacher - many fitness instructors in big gyms have only done short weekend courses, and in a big class won't be able to give you the individual attention you might need. Look for specialist studios and classes of 5 - 8 people, offered for different levels.

[bluenoir]

I struggled with sciatica like symptoms for 5 years, leaving me barely able to walk. Private physio diagnosed a muscle pinching a nerve, treated and recommended Pilates to stop it happening again.

I have a "proper" Pilates DVD that I put on if I have a flare up and I've been more or less fine for over a year now.

[Mammawilson]

Thanks, i have had back problems since i was in primary school, flares up every now and then, since giving up smoking and piling on the weight (about 2 stone in 2 years) my back hurts alot more, hopefully with the exercise and pilates it will be a distant memory.

[MCBerberLoop]

Again, life-changing for my back. I think it's something that you commit to going to at least once a week (or doing online for a good session) for the long-term - you won't notice a dramatic difference overnight, but over the longterm you will get strong and flexible and your shape will come into place (As it's so good at core, posture, all over stretching and strengthening). It wouldn't really help you lose weight, but when you do lose weight, it will help you look and feel amazing.

[blackteaplease]

I have been going for 6 months now and love it. It makes me feel balanced and strong. I have ongoing pelvic problems from pregnancy and pilates really helps.

[Delatron]

Completely sorted out my back issues. Strengthens core, glutes, back and neglected muscles like hips.
It’s not about being super flexible (leave that to yoga) but you will become more flexible. However that flexibility will be backed by strength. And that is what, for me, makes it better than yoga. You get stronger and can keep progressing even if you’re not super flexible. It’s all about mobility and functional movement which helps with all your other activities.

It’s also meant that I can run injury free.

[LIZS]

Sorts out lots of tightness, creaks and alignment issues. Strengthens core and muscles which support your body.

[ThursdayLastWeek]

I find it’s wonderful for a bit of mindfulness too. I’ve been going for 6 years and I understand my body so much more now than I did.

Also, ditto back strength!

[ErrolTheDragon]

The Times has some stuff about Pilates today.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/get-a-pilates-bod-the-a-lists-guide-to-shaping-up-ks0wfjnnt?shareToken=6f3dea2e8e898e96b9873b9ac7165118


www.thetimes.co.uk/article/get-fit-in-2020-a-beginners-guide-to-pilates-gp8mfqr36?shareToken=e44bffb83bbdbbdd36ef4e1b306f32f2

I find pilates very good for many of the reasons others have mentioned. I've got a lovely teacher - although I've had classes with other instructors I've not found so good. I'd like to do some at home too (the class is only once a week) - I'd really like specific DVD recommendations!

[banivani]

I love Pilates and am a low level instructor - you wouldn’t know it to look at me though because atm I have no studio to go to and no one to help me train so I have to rely on my own discipline, of which there is none. 🙄😉

I have always been a rather unphysical person, with a low understanding of how my body works. For example I could never turn a cartwheel or stand on my hands. I just didn’t understand how to make my body do it. I still can’t do it mind but thanks to Pilates I understand what it takes. Previous forays into being an athletic person have always been “just run, jump, catch, lift” and when I couldn’t do it I felt stupid. I’ve really appreciated how a good Pilates instructor helps you understand what muscles to use and how to find them. It can be very technical and it can be frustrating if an instructor drowns you in a word salad. I def struggle with that since I am a low level instructor - I love discovering that verbal cue that helps me go “aha!” so I have a tendency to talk too much. (Jay Grimes, who studied directly with Pilates, doesn’t talk very much and thinks it kills the mood somewhat so I’ve tried to tone it down .)

Pilates can be a bit of a cult in that there is a level of competition over who is truest to the Method. Classical Pilates (my church) will insist on being true to the original exercises by Joseph Pilates (who will often be proprietarily referred to as Uncle Joe). You have a certain hierarchy of trainers depending on who trained them and how many steps removed they are from Pilates himself. I find it very amusing, but also often very true - if you find someone trained by X who was trained by Y who trained directly under Pilates then you’re most likely in to a winner! A good instructor knows the original method, knows variations, can spot when you’re working inefficiently and tweak you to work harder. You should see progress.

Stott Pilates is a very physio-based branch that have trademarked their training and certain extra moves. I think it’s good but I prefer the classical approach for being quite generous, people seem to enjoy sharing their knowledge.

My easiest go-to resources online are www.verywellfit.com/pilates-4157097 - these are solid workouts with some good cues. Andrea something (forget her last name atm) has a rather muddley homepage but LOTS of info and she’s done loads of YouTube vids too pilatesandrea.com/ (she also has a section on why lineage matters).

I’d also highly recommend Pilatesology. For a monthly fee you can access so many great videos with exercises. I use it on and off, pay for a few months here and there. They have videos/collaborate with Jay Grimes and Sonje Mayo and those instructional videos are fantastic. Maybe not beginner fodder though, but the founder of the site, Alisa Wyatt, does great beginner vids.

If you can find a Winsor Pilates video that’s great too - Mari Winsor might have been the first to do video training and she’s brilliant. Sadly very ill now, ALS.

Sorry for essay!