PIlates - My take!!

I finally got my certification in Teachers training for Pilates to which I am really happy about and thankful about.

Pilates has quite a mixed response in the fitness industry. One group swears by its benefits while the other shoots it down. If there is one thing I have learnt in my life its go back to the source, where things began or by the person who created it. 

So what is my take away about Pilates since I have always been involved with lifting weights and strength training?

An important point to remember is Joseph Pilates himself referred to this practice as 'Controlology' which had been practiced for years before Pilates as a training system ever came up.

1) Pilates is not a sissy fad - In the fitness industry people want the latest fad to shed weight quick and look good. Unfortunately Pilates is just made and marketed that way like most other things in the fitness world. It was around for quite a while.

2) Pilates is good for strengthening you from the inside out - Pilates helps you reach to activate vital core muscles that you probably didn't even know you had. Yet its these muscles that are the powerhouse of the musculoskeletal system.

3) Mind Muscle connection - Pilates requires a lot of mind muscle connection with also being able to hear instruction at the same time. You are working vital muscles which you cant see but are very important for your musculoskeletal system.

4) Pilates is a form of strength training- There is a lot of isometric contraction in Pilates. Isometric contractions are known and researched to cause upto 50% more strength in the body. As a matter of fact some of the strongest and best physiques came out of isometric training. 2 names that immediately comes up are 'The Mighty Atom' and Charles Atlas.

5) Pilates is probably one of the best programs for Rehab - Please read that again carefully. I didnt say it was the best. I said it was probably one of the best. How do I know this? I heard about it. Joe Pilates was a sickly child with quite a few illnesses at 4 years old. 10 years later at 14  he was modelling for anatomy charts. After three days of 8-10 hours of training as a healthy and fit trainer I was feeling much better around my joints and certain muscle groups and 12 hours from finishing that trainng session I put a client of mine on Pilates immediately. This client was in for rehab and training with me for four months and her comment was

Wow. My movement is so much better and there is less pain!!'

That session was a session of strength training and 30 minutes only!

Oh and of course Joe Pilates rehabbed an entire section of WWII soldiers using his principles.

6) Pilates CAN be a stand alone but might not necessarily be the complete training that you need - Pilates might cover only one part of your fitness needs. Joseph Pilates himself was involved with a host of other training methodologies.

7) Since Pilates is essentially principles it can blend in and be applied to a lot more other disciplines essentially.

Pilates was quite an interesting learning for me. I definitely recommend at least 4 sessions to learn the principles. The principles are definitely something I will incorporate in all trainings of mine and that I teach.

Got any questions? Comments? I would like to hear your views.