I was recently in Cincinnati visiting friends and family and had the opportunity to take Pilates classes at two different studios. This is something I love to do when I travel. It’s fun to be the student and to try new studios and new teachers. Usually, I have a great experience and walk away with a new cue or new sequence I want to bring back to my studio. I am happy to report that was the case this weekend. Occasionally, however, I have a less than great experience and I attribute this to the class not really being Pilates!

So what is Pilates? We know it’s about the core. It’s about stabilizing and moving the spine. It’s about creating freedom of movement in the body and balancing muscles. Those are great concepts but sometimes it is easier to understand what it isn’t.

So the next question then is what is Pilates not??

Pilates is not working muscles to exhaustion. Joseph Pilates books and the archives of Pilates material do not mention this concept at all. In fact they point to the opposite of this. Working to muscle exhaustion is a body building technique. While Pilates will help you build strength and gain muscle, it’s done with mindful movement and sometimes only a few movements done precisely. Generally, if we try to work to exhaustion - we end up losing our form. In the Return to Life book some exercises are only recommend at three repetitions. The concept of less is more reigns supreme in Pilates.

Pilates is also not extended workouts. Joseph Pilates taught students for about an hour. I sometimes have students think that if an hour is good two must be better! I never recommend this and I don’t believe Joseph Pilates would have either. Again - it’s back to that concept of less but better quality is better. Our bodies fatigue if we do too much and if we are really concentrating and doing Pilates right - one hour can be a LOT! A fatigued body is not going to be using proper form and over working can end up negatively impacting our metabolism. An overworked body won’t be as good in the next class either.

Pilates is not fast paced - with the exception of jumping. At a controlled pace - Pilates is work pushing out against the springs and also returning with the springs. We never want to just ride the springs. Getting our bodies out of fight or flight is a lot easier when we slow down in class, focus, and breath. Rushed movements keep us at elevated stress levels. If we think about the full movement as work that can really change the results we achieve.

Pilates is not competitive. I believe the world of CrossFit type of exercises have brought out this competitive mindset but it doesn’t have a place in Pilates. There is no finish line or first place. Everyone should be working out at their own level and progressing at their own pace. Trying to best the person next to you is not being true to your own body.

When I go back to thinking about what Pilates is I have to say it’s so well thought out that all levels can participate and see results. It’s so well rounded that all of the body is involved. It’s really quite genius and magical if you will!