My Pilates addiction began a long time ago, when I
hesitantly migrated to a mat class that had replaced my lunchtime Vinyasa. Two
things were particularly clear after that class, firstly that my dome of so
called core muscles needed a drastic makeover, and secondly that the pelvic
floor arena was certainly not a mythical creature that was loosely mentioned at
the beginning of every ashtanga class.
Over the years my body has been made stronger, leaner
and taller thanks to the conditioning and challenging nature of this exercise. From
practicing to a YouTube video on my living room floor to scooter lunges in the
gym group reformer classes to confronting
the Cadillac in private studio lessons, Pilates has become an essential part of
my exercise routine. I never stop learning and leave every practice feeling
elongated and centred.
While I’m certainly a creature of habit in all other respects,
exercise is something I am incredibly fickle with and I’ve gone through various
phases of running, yoga, dance, Kayla routines and even a very short lived boxing phase (as much as I wanted to look like Lima
and Gigi in training for the VS show it’s never going to happen, props to the
bad asses who can jab hook and weave relentlessly and not feel like their body
has been hit by a semi trailer the next day).
For me, Pilates is the only exercise that manages to
be relaxing and challenging at the same time and most important of all delivers
RESULTS. And on that note, allow me to share the key 6 insights
in the hope to dispel any common myths and misconceptions and get you booking
into a reformer session stat (if you’re not already!).
1. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE POWERHOUSE
The movements in Pilates are based on the philosophy
that the core (glutes/pelvis/abs and thoracic region) is the origin of all
movement, strength and balance, so the idea of focussing on core strengthening
exercise is to make you strong from the inside out and improve your performance
as an athlete or training in other sports.
For me it’s meant that I’ve gone from a shaking mess
to rock solid form in planks, push ups (almost), hundreds and other intense
weight bearing exercises. I’ve had friends who’ve done body pump and weights at
the gym for years who’ll crumble and quiver through a Pilates session because
they’ve never properly activated and used their core. A strong powerhouse (as
Joseph Pilates called it) also helps prevent injury and muscle strain when you
are doing more intense training (again obvs not me but explains why Olympians
and heavy weight athletes use and practice Pilates).
2. PILATES IS FOR EVERYONE
Yes people, Pilates isn’t just for dancers or for yoga
enthusiasts and certainly not exclusive to women, Pilates is for every body
form and all genders. It was after all
created by a man, the legendary Joseph Pilates who was a professional boxer and
self-defence trainer. I took my hubby along to a reformer workout this week and
although bemused by terms like “magic circle” and cues like “imagine you’re
wearing a stiletto heel” he found the class as tough as nails and worked
muscles he didn’t even know he had (hello inner thighs!). Pilates can be done
(and is even recommended) pre and post natal and for people ridden with all
sorts of injuries. If your instructor is comprehensively trained (and the best
ones will have done a 400-600 hour qualification and will have a phenomenal
understanding of anatomy) they should be able to adjust and program a routine
for just about anyone and still ensure that person gets a workout.
3. CLASSICAL v CONTEMPORARY
Have you noticed the constant emphasis on “neutral spine” in
Pilates classes? It was news to me that there are 2 major schools of Pilates,
the classical (although they’ll tell you they don’t like being called classical
or traditional and there is simply Pilates and everything else!) and the
contemporary methods. Classical Pilates teachers will only teach the original
exercises in the exact technique and order that Joseph Pilates prescribed (and
that’s where we get Controlology from ;)) in classical there is an emphasis on
a flat or imprinted spine and glute engagement, it’s a much stronger workout
too.
Then you have the contemporary which while based on
the original exercises is modified to be in line with exercise science that’s
developed since Uncle Jo came up with the method. It's more dynamic, promotes
use of the neutral spine and will introduce non-Pilates movements. The vast
majority of Sydney, (and Australia generally) teaches contemporary and you won’t
find many classically trained teachers here but see section 6 for some awesome
classical studios to try here. Back in New York where Pilates was born and
developed, the majority are purists and often even quite protective about the
original method. For me I’ve had phenomenal workouts in both but I do love the
more dynamic and creative side of how Pilates can be done so slightly favour
contemporary more at this point.
4. THE BARRE EXPLOSION
I don’t think my legs have ever worked as hard as they have
than in some of the barre classes I’ve tried. And over the past couple of years
there’s been an explosion of the ballet inspired workout in Sydney and abroad.
Did you know that barre is essentially a fusion of standing Pilates, yoga and ballet
technique? Maybe as a dancer I love doing any exercise that doesn’t require
shoes and demands technique but the more I do barre the more I love it. The
only thing that unsettles me from time to time is that unlike Pilates and yoga,
there are never enough adjustments or detailed cuing for form and before you
know it I’ve thrown my back out from hyper-extending in leg swings! If you guys
know of a barre studio you love then defs drop me a line.
5. SCULPTING & LENGTHENING
Probably my favourite thing about Pilates, the changes in
the body that you see happen almost immediately. All that “navel to spin” and “draw
the tummy in” cueing is definitely not just instructor racket, your stomach
literally gets flatter after every session, my butt and thighs are like 110%
more toned when doing Pilates regularly and after so long I’ve actually got
proper bicep and tricep strength from all of the reformer exercises with hands
in straps. There’s also so much more work on obliques with side line series and
inner thighs so you are actively sculpting your body.
This is in contrast to my experience of high intensity
interval training where I swear all of the plyometric lunges and sprinting were
bulking up my thighs. I should clarify that Pilates is not for weight loss per
se and isn't designed to burn fat so you'd want to supplement your routine with
cardio.
Pilates is designed to lengthen and stretch the
muscles, so there’s a snowball’s chance in hell that you’ll get thicker and a
guarantee that the elongating of the muscle fibres from regularly doing Pilates
will make you feel and look taller – now to just cut down on all of the crap I
eat to actually let some of these mythical muscles show!
6. WHERE TO WORKOUT
I’ve definitely been to my fair share of classes and various
studios and gyms. For me it's always been more about the instructor than the
studio but as a general principle it will always be hit and miss at the larger
gyms and more focused and higher quality training at studios.
Here’s a list of my favourites:
FOR A DYNAMIC WORKOUT
KX Pilates – think Pilates on steroids with high energy music
and super motivated instructors - it’s all the rage right now and literally the
hardest I have EVER had to work in Pilates, the KX classes are super dynamic so
you’ll be doing anything from flying splits to jumpboard Pilates to reformer
squats with Dumbbells, I couldn’t recommend it more as an effective all rounder
for muscle building and toning which also gets the heart rate up pronto. But I
definitely recommend it with the proviso that it is for fit people and not the
type of Pilates you seek out if you’re recovering from an injury or looking for
more focused stretching and conditioning type work.
FOR HIGH QUALITY AND PURITY
Cynthia Lochard’s Pilates Method – A humble yet
thriving studio in Surry hills, this is the only classical studio with a direct
link to New York’s infamous Romanas Pilates studio (Romana Kryzanowska was one
of the Pilates “Elders” and was trained by Joseph Pilates himself) where NY
born Cynthia Lochard is one of only 3 handpicked Master trainers worldwide in
the original method. I did some privates and duets here and the quality of the teaching
is insanely high, it was (as my yogi friend who is also a Pilates teacher that
went with me) meditation for the body. For any Pilates enthusiast thinking of
snubbing the purists, book yourself in for a lesson here and you will totally
get what all of the fuss is about. Authentic Pilates studio in Lilyfield and
True Pilates Sydney in Surry Hills (both owners trained by Cynthia) are also
great options.
GYMS AND HEALTH CLUBS
These are definitely more budget friendly. I went to
reformer classes at Virgin Pitt St for years and was totally attached to one of
the instructors who was a studio teacher that came there part-time. Elixr also
has excellent classes and run group reformer pretty much every hour at the
Bligh St club (I've found so many teachers in smaller studios are elixr trained
and are solid)
SUBURBAN STUDIOS
The Fit4Life studio in Rozelle is literally at my doorstep and they
run some strong workouts on the STOTT machines (and host STOTT training and workshops).
BodyEthos in Balmain is also great and offers barre and yoga too. I've also
heard great things about Fluidform in Waterloo (Elle Ferguson's habitat), Flowathletic
in Paddington and Powernouse in Balgowlah.
Have I missed any? I'm always looking for a delicious pilates workout so do share :)
CM x
*Images are borrowed*
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