Ever since I started teaching Pilates and talking to people about it on a regular basis, I have come to realize most people don’t really know what Pilates is. So I thought I would try to debunk some misconceptions or pre-conceived notions about Pilates I’ve heard floating around.

Before we dive in, if you are new to Pilates I would highly recommend you start by reading my posts “What is Pilates” and “Benefits of Pilates” to give you a basic understanding of the practice of Pilates.

Alright, let’s dive in!

1. I can’t do Pilates, I AM NOT FLEXIBLE! I can understand why this is a concern people have, because it may appear like you need to be flexible to do most of the moves, but you don’t! There are ways to modify to make it work for you, flexibility comes with practice. If you are stiff and not flexible – Pilates is for you!!  Pilates is exactly what you need to lengthen your muscles and increase flexibility all over your body.

2. Pilates is TOO HARD! Along those lines you also may be thinking – I am not strong or coordinated enough, or Pilates is for people that work out all the time and are in good shape. Do not be intimidated when you see a challenging exercise and think “I could never do that!”, because chances are you can probably do it too with practice and consistency. I am doing moves now that I would have never dreamed I could do. Pilates is awesome because it is for everyBODY and can be modified to your level of fitness. Make the move work for you; that is how you build up strength and stamina – we all have to start somewhere!

3. Pilates is TOO EASY! You may be tempted to dismiss the many benefits of Pilates because it is low impact, looks “too relaxing” or because it’s not some sweat-fest cardio session. Don’t knock it until you try it! Honestly if it feels too easy, you are probably not doing it right. Pilates is a method, it’s a practice, and it builds upon itself. First you start by just learning the basics, building a little bit of strength and flexibility. Then you start to learn to connect to your body on a deeper level, improving concentration and precision. Focusing on coordination and proper alignment. Eventually you advance to more difficult positions. But it doesn’t matter how long you have been doing Pilates, you will still get work out of some of the most basic Pilates moves, it is just body mechanics.

4. Isn’t Pilates the SAME AS YOGA? This is one I hear all the time! Yes there are some similarities – both are mind/body practices done on a mat. Yoga has deep spiritual roots and has more static holding of poses, whereas Pilates focuses more on building strength, improving core and posture. We move faster, do repetitions of movements, and flow from one exercise to the next. You may find you love both, or you identify more with one or the other. A lot of people that struggle with yoga find that they love Pilates.

5. Pilates is for WOMEN ONLY! Well first off, Pilates was invented by a man, so it is most certainly for both genders. It is true that more women are drawn to Pilates, and I think a big part of that has to do with the strength you can build without bulk. I also believe that men often buy into the misconceptions above, thinking it’s not for them for one reason or another. But regardless of who you are or where you are in your fitness journey, Pilates has important benefits that we ALL need! My husband enjoys doing Pilates with me and is also amazed by how much better he feels when he does it regularly.

Do you have any other questions or concerns about Pilates? Leave a comment or message me, I would love to talk to you about it! Hopefully this has cleared up some of the concerns you may have had about Pilates, and you will join us on the mat soon!

with Grace,

If you are a newbie to Pilates – you may be wondering, what is Pilates anyways? I’m so excited to share my knowledge and passion with you!

Before you dive into practicing Pilates, I thought it would be beneficial to give you a little background into what Pilates is. It’s hard to appreciate something or do it effectively if you don’t understand what it is you are doing! Right?

Pilates was invented by Joseph Pilates in the early 20^th century and was originally named “Contrology”, the art and method of controlled movements. Pilates combines gentle stretching, alignment, muscle balance, body awareness and deep breathing. It is great for strengthening and toning your whole body- with a focus on your core, posture, and increasing flexibility. Pilates is a mind/body exercise- aiming to connect and strengthen both the mind and the body.

The mind comes into play when trying to concentrate on certain muscle groups, while relaxing others, breathing properly and maintaining core engagement. Doesn’t sound easy does it? Ha nope, but don’t let that scare you. It is a practice, a discipline, and something that you work towards – I am still working on it every day! It is oh so beneficial and worth the work. Deeping that connection of your mind to your body allows you to relieve stress, clear your mind and be more in tuned with what is going on in your body.

The benefits to your body are numerous- in fact I wrote an entire blog post – How Can Pilates Help Me? – on the benefits of Pilates and how it has impacted my life. But to summarize, Pilates improves flexibility, alignment (think better posture) and builds strength (particularly the core).

There are two main Pilates practices – mat Pilates (which is what I do) and “apparatus” Pilates. The reformer, Cadillac, Wunda Chair and Ladder Barrel are some of the most commonly used Pilates apparatuses. These pieces of equipment can be expensive and typically found only in Pilates studios (not gyms). They are designed to further build upon or accelerate the stretching and strengthening started on the mat.

Mat Pilates can also be done with the use of props – balls, bands, the magic circle and light hand weights.

And all those things are great, but you can get a great work out with real results on literally just a mat! No fancy equipment needed! In as little as 10-15 minutes a day, several times a week, you can make big changes in your body.

It is low impact, so it leaves you feeling energized, not depleted. And it can be modified to meet the needs of YOUR body that day.

This was just a brief overview, but I hope this gives you a better understanding of what Pilates is and its background. Have you ever tried Pilates before? If not, hopefully this motivates you to give it a try 😊.

See you on the mat soon!

with Grace,