If you are going through the motions without applying the principles of control, centering, concentration and precision, it may feel easy — but you are not really doing Pilates. Under the right guidance, the exercises should be challenging and rejuvenating for all fitness levels.  Because the exercises engage the deepest core muscles, you need to be guided to do them properly to get the most benefit. 

3.     PILATES IS TOO HARD

Pilates can be very humbling, even for people who are in good shape.  Many other forms of exercise do not engage the deep core muscles in the same way that Pilates does.  A good Pilates session will include instruction for every level of fitness and a breakdown of how to properly perform the movements for your body.

As someone who has personally suffered through back pain and growing up wearing a back brace, I understand the fear and pain that can come with having a chronic injury. Unlike many workouts that either fail to challenge you or can worsen pain, Pilates offers a path to strengthen and rehabilitate your body in a safe and controlled way. Every movement in a Pilates workout has been specifically developed to support your body in a way that promotes wellness, rehabilitates your body, and prevents injury. 

 4.     YOU NEED EQUIPMENT TO DO PILATES

Joseph Pilates invented several pieces of exercise equipment to enhance the mat-based program, but you don’t need any equipment to do Pilates. Mat Pilates sessions are a great and easy way to get an effective Pilates workout for your whole body. 

5.     PILATES ONLY WORKS YOUR CORE

While Pilates does build core strength, Joseph Pilates always emphasized that his exercises were for the whole body.  He believed the more muscles you use to perform a movement, the more efficient the movement would be.  This creates a system of functional strength that applies to all movements.  The Pilates system teaches a balance of strength and flexibility, or, “the uniform development of our bodies as a whole,” Pilates often said. This approach also helps lengthen your muscles, prevent injury, and support your body as a whole. 

6.     PILATES IS FOR FLEXIBLE PEOPLE

Flexibility is an inherent part of Pilates training, so you will gain flexibility by doing Pilates regularly.  The exercises are geared towards improving flexibility for a more limber body with greater ranges of motion.  And for those people who are overly flexible, the core conditioning creates joint stability, so the goal is a balance of strength and flexibility. All exercises can be modified or adapted to suit each individual’s flexibility 

7.     PILATES IS FOR WOMEN 

Pilates was originally started by a man, Joseph Pilates, and was initially designed for men.  Pilates himself was a boxer and circus performer, and he trained both Scotland Yard and the Hamburg Military Police in self-defense and physical training before coming to New York in 1926. Many dancers went to him for both physical rehabilitation and injury prevention. These days, more and more male sports teams are incorporating Pilates exercises into their cross-training programs. 

LeBron James, Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson, Brandin Cooks, Michael Campanaro & Chris Givensare just a small number of the many male Pro Athletes who use the Pilates Method to enhance their agility and sports performance. 

8.     PILATES IS TOO EXPENSIVE

The Pilates Method will keep you healthy, reduce stress, increase flexibility and core strength to name a few of the benefits. It’s an investment in your health and your future by making you feel healthier and younger as you age. In my experience, once a week can help supplement your other physical activities. Pilates 2-3 times a week is enough to start seeing significant changes.