I’ve been working as a Pilates Instructor for over 8 years and I’ve been a Fitness Professional for over 20 years.
The 2 most common questions I still get asked are
What is Pilates? and
Can I lose weight doing Pilates?
Today I’m going to try and tackle the first question, and i’ll leave question #2 for another day
So….. What is Pilates?
Very simply, Pilates is a style of exercises that help to balance the muscles in your body through the use of movement. Pilates focusses on flexibility, joint movement, and muscle strengthening.
The way I like to describe Pilates to my clients is that Chiropractors manipulate hard tissue or bones through physical adjustments, Physiotherapists manipulate soft tissue or muscles through physical massage, and Pilates instructors manipulate hard AND soft tissue through movement.
Why are there different types of Pilates?
Mat, Reformer, Equipment, Clinical….. The list goes on and on.
So what are they and how are they all different?
Mat
Mat Pilates are group exercise classes; generally with 20-40 people in a class and can be held in a hall, Pilates studio or gym.
Mat is BRILLIANT if you have no injuries, aren’t pregnant and are relatively fit and agile.
Mat Pilates is sort of similar to Yoga in the class format with focus on flexibility, strength and breath.
Reformer
Reformer is a group exercise class, that is held with 8-12 people in a class, all using a Reformer machine.
Reformer is great if you have no injuries and have a little bit of experience either in using Pilates Studio equipment or Mat.
Equipment or Clinical Pilates
Clinical Pilates is more specific and is generally used for rehab purposes or for professional athletes. The sessions are either private 1:1 or with up to 3 people in a class.
Clinical Pilates classes use a variety of different pieces of equipment. The Instructor is much more qualified than a Reformer or Mat Instructor, and in many cases is a Physiotherapist.
Clinical Pilates classes are incredible for people with chronic back pain, pre or post-natal care or professional athletes wanting to reach the next level of their training
Why Lifestyle Pilates at Home?
With over 8 years of experience as a Clinical Pilates Instructor, I have helped 100’s of clients to reduce back pain, recover from injuries and meet their athletic goals.
I started Lifestyle Pilates at Home so that I could help more people to better their health.
Our monthly membership plan offers regular Pilates workouts to strengthen your core, reduce your back pain and help you feel good, as well as monthly meal plans and recipes to help you burn fat and fit into your skinny jeans.
Click here to start your health and fitness journey with us today!
