Pilates still has some stigma surrounding it, everything from it being a ladies-only class, to it being like Yoga. In this blog I’m going to try and dispel those myths and hopefully persuade you to join a class or book a session soon.
- It’s for old ladies: Pilates can benefit everyone of any age, but chances are we spend our youth pushing it to the extremes before we realise the benefits of less strenuous exercise. By that time the damage has usually started to take its toll. BUT it’s not too late to start looking after yourself.
- It’s only for women: Although very popular with women and Pilates is great during pregnancy and post natal, it isn’t exclusive to the female population. More and more men are seeing the benefits from professional athletes like Tiger Woods, David Beckham and Andy Murray and film stars such as Hugh Grant and Sylvester Stallone. It can be a great way of enhancing your game, working on your posture and generally making you feel good!
- It’s only for people with injuries: You don’t need to be injured to do Pilates. In fact it can help prevent injuries by educating your body how to move better and more effectively by improving your posture.
- You need to be flexible: Not at all – touching your toes is not a requirement. After all, that’s what you have knees for!
- It’s only for rich people: It’s true that Pilates does tend to be a more high-end service. However, mat classes can be a more accessible and affordable place to start. The equipment is more expensive to use and for good reason: it’s very well produced and designed to enhance your awareness of the movements more than a mat class. However, you will reap the benefits in only a few short sessions.
- You need to be really good to use the equipment: Well, Mr Pilates invented the equipment to help make your mat work better, so not at all. In fact one could argue you should start on the equipment before moving to mat class.
- Only skinny people do it: It can be very intimidating if you happen to be anything other than a size 6. And goodness forgive you have A TUMMY!! Not being a skinny mini myself, this is defiantly a myth. Your body can learn to do anything regardless of its size or shape – it just needs practice!
- You need to have a strong core: In the more advanced movements, you absolutely need strong core muscles. However there are very few people who can really do those movements well. Pilates will increase your core strength for sure, and this will lead to better posture, less pain etc. But we all have to start somewhere and not having both feet off the floor is just fine!
- Its like Yoga: Although some of the movements and poses in Yoga look like the same, and indeed Pilates himself took inspiration from Yoga, they are however different. Pilates focuses on working the body from the inside out. The focus in Yoga is different and depending on the style will differ again in its nature.
- I need to keep up with everyone else: Not at all, it’s more important you feel the movements and execute them as best you can. Doing them too quickly could result in you using momentum or not really ‘getting it’. Worst case it could lead to injury or pain. ALWAYS work at your own level and take your time.
