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Pilates: The Myths Exposed

By Michael Tasker

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 01Nov2008 Word count: 668 Viewed: 259 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

With increasing popularity of Pilates more people are aware of it, but with like anything slightly mysterious, where the meaning of a phrase gets distorted as it is passed along, as word spreads about Pilates, so have some ideas about it that aren't truly correct. Here a few of the myths that you need to be aware of.

Firstly, there is a common misconception that Pilates and Yoga are the same. It is not a derivative of yoga, although the founder, Joseph Pilates did study yoga, along with many other fitness and body/mind disciplines. While Pilates and yoga are very complimentary practices, they are also very different in their techniques and outcomes.

Secondly, it is believed that Pilates is only a quick fix for out of shape abs. It is used as a fix for abs. And it is well-known for flattening stomachs. The reason that Pilates does focus on working from the core, especially the deeper abdominal muscles, is that toning the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles provides stability and freedom of motion throughout the body. This is one of the reasons that it has been so successful for people who have back pain. However, the methods do not stop at abdominal work at all. Structural integration and learning to create a flexible, strong body that can move freely and efficiently are important goals of Pilates fitness. To this end, the methods work all body parts in a very balanced way, not just the abs.

The Pilates method is also a practice of mind/body fitness. Developing a body that works as a harmonious whole requires much more than a calisthenic or a spot reduction approach to fitness. The overall principles - control, centering, concentration, breathing, flow, and precision all support an integrative mind/body experience through such exercise.

Thirdly, some consider that Pilates is for wimps. Pilates is very adaptable. It can be easy or very hard, depending on the needs of the individual. The ability to modify exercises for different populations is actually one of the its greatest strengths. In addition, its soaring popularity has meant that there are many beginner classes in practically every gym and studio around the country. This is a good thing, but it also means that people are not necessarily exposed to the intermediate and advanced levels of Pilates. Lastly, the exercises are often done slowly. There is an emphasis on awareness and control that can make an exercise look easy to the casual observer.

It is a popular form of exercise for pregnant women, it is used in rehabilitation, and people of all ages and sizes can do Pilates. Nevertheless, the method presents ongoing challenges for even the fittest athletes who use it as a means of not just optimising the performance of their body's but also to reduce the occurrence of injury.

Fourthly, some are misguided in thinking that Pilates is only for women. It has never been "just for women" and its benefits are certainly not gender biased. After all, it was developed by a man, Joseph Pilates, who is said to have been a rather macho man at that. He was a gymnast, a boxer, and a military trainer in his early years, and pictures of him even into his eighties, reveal a very strong, fit physique. Men have always played an important role in maintaining the methods and shaping its evolution and there are particular techniques designed for the male physique.

It is true that Pilates is very popular with women, but there is nothing about it that makes it more for women than for men. The adaptability of the Pilates method to different levels of fitness and body types has made it an accessible and effective fitness choice for women. Also, Pilates has attracted a large number of dancers, especially women, and many of them have chosen it as a next career. More women teachers have made Pilates more attractive to women students. Both of these factors may have contributed to a somewhat feminised perception.

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