Pilates is not

I was recently in Cincinnati visiting friends and family and had the opportunity to take Pllates 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. And 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?

The History of Pilates

The history of Pilates goes all the way back to the early 1900s when a man named Joseph Pilates worked with patients of the First World War who were unable to walk. He attached bed springs to the patient’s hospital beds to help support their limbs. Today, Joseph Pilates’ method is being taught to millions of people all over the world.

Pilates Legacy

In the beginning of my Pilates training, I focused on learning more movements and sequencing on the equipment. Next I focused on a deeper understanding of the body and anatomy. That learning lead me to do specialized training in chronic conditions, rehab related work, pre and post- natal and rehab/injury recovery.

What's Your Training?

This is a topic that comes up from time to time in the studio and runs rampant online. The question may be “Who trained you?” or “Where did you get your credentials?” These are fair questions … but the answer doesn’t really tell you everything you need to know as a potential student or fellow teacher. Many of us, myself included, received one form of Pilates training … possibly what was most convenient, affordable or available for us. But, many of us, myself included, have continued to pursue additional training, working with different instructors or schools of thought and practice. If you simply ask where did you study or who was your original teacher, you would miss learning about all the additional scope and expertise gained post initial training.

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