Anyone Can Do Pilates

You have likely heard me and other Pilates teachers say that Pilates is for every body. Anyone can do Pilates, and at b.Pilates & Fitness we can cater to many fitness levels, special conditions, injuries, and all ages. Our average client is between 30 and 75 years old, mostly women (and a few good men!), and are active people who enjoy travel, family, and other fitness activities. Many of our morning clients are retired, work part time, or work varied shifts. Our evening clientele are mostly people who work full time, many have teen to adult children, and life is allowing them more time to focus on themselves. So, how can such a varied group of people all do Pilates? 

Varied Class Types

Kind of like swimming lessons, we have a variety of options to ensure anyone can do Pilates at our studio: 

• We have our clients do an Introduction to Pilates series of three classes. There are group or private options. This way, we get to know you, your needs, and your goals. On your side, you get to learn the basics of Pilates, the studio and teachers, and how to use the apparatuses. After your introduction, you can confidently join our small group classes or continue with private training. 
• We offer Private Lessons. These lessons are wonderful for people who have some limitations with their movement abilities. This could be due to a special condition, injury, recovery from a surgery, is pre- or post-natal, or because they are new to fitness. Depending on these circumstances, some people will stick with 1:1 sessions for years and others for a little while and then will move into classes. The other reason some people do private lessons is due to their lifestyle. They might travel a lot or have a job that is incredibly time consuming but they are able to get away to the studio when scheduled classes aren’t available. 
• Then there are the Group Classes! We offer three group class types: 1.Traditional Pilates, which is Classical Pilates exercises performed on the Pilates apparatus, focusing on strength, mobility, control, and alignment; 2. Strength & Restore Pilates, which is a slower-paced class to help you improve mobility, balance, and overall strength while supporting recovery and preventing injury; and 3. Contrology, where (once you’ve built confidence), you can explore Pilates the way Joseph Pilates intended – at your own pace, where you can deepen your mind-body connection and experience the true magic of the method. 

Different Types of Pilates

Now, let’s compare Pilates to dance. Just like there is tap, jazz, contemporary, and cultural dance, Pilates has its own varieties, too! There are all kinds of teacher-training programs and studio styles. It’s important to find a studio that fits your preferences and abilities, as you would with choosing a dance studio. 

What Kind of Teacher Do You Want? 

What your instructor teaches will most certainly matter. You can choose from teachers who are trained in:: 

1. Mat Pilates – This can be Classical or Contemporary.
2. Contemporary Comprehensive Pilates Training – This teaches the teachers how to use most of the Pilates apparatus.
3. Classical Comprehensive Pilates Training – Also known as class traditional or contrology Pilates, this teaches the teachers how to use all of the original Pilates apparatuses, following the Pilates system more closely to how Joseph Pilates taught.
4. Reformer Fitness – While this uses the Pilates reformer, studios may make up “Pilates” exercises or neglect to teach the Pilates method as a whole. 
5. Pilates-Influenced – Classes that feel or look like Pilates, but don’t follow the original intent or structure of the method. 
6. Clinical Pilates – Physiotherapists, chiropractors, RMT’s, etc. may use Pilates as another tool to help their patients build the strength, mobilty, or flexibilty that they need to rehabilitate from injury. 

What Type of Studio Do You Want? 

We are seeing more and more studios opening up these days. When I started teaching Pilates 20 years ago, there were a lot of mat classes in gyms, rec centres, and yoga studios. Any studios I knew of then, whether contemporary or classical, had most of the various apparatus and would offer smaller classes, private, or semi-private sessions. I also knew of some clinics that had a small room of Pilates equipment that they used for patients.  

Around 2012/13 Pilates franchises started to open up, but it took until about 2017/18 to get to Canada. There are several franchises out there now with similar concepts.They usually have 8 to 12 reformers while others may have other apparatuses or stations their clients rotate through. Some do only group lessons, while others offer private lessons. Others offer a variety of fitness modalities as well.   

Then, of course, the studios will reflect the type of teacher training mentioned above. Do you want a traditional Pilates experience, or something more modern and fast-paced? Whichever setting you prefer, you can probably find one these days for Pilates. Before you choose a studio, though, I’d encourage you to check the teachers’ educational background and years of experience to ensure you will be getting a safe workout. 

It All Comes Down To You

I love that traditional and contemporary Pilates can be regressed or advanced for nearly everyone. I certainly haven’t met anyone that wasn’t able to physically do Pilates, even if they had injuries or limitations. That’s because if the teacher knows the Pilates method fully and well, there are all kinds of exercises in the system that can be taught in full and we just have to move around the studio a little bit to fill the 50 minute session.  

In the end, though, it really is up to you! If you want a large Pilates group class that is choreographed to music, you can find it, and it can be a ton of fun. If you have significant physical limitations, clinical Pilates with the assistance of a medical professional or private lessons may be best. Or, maybe you want to experience the amazing, thoughtful method of the entire Pilates system. There is a studio for you, too (like b.Pilates & Fitness). 

Whatever your preference, be assured that yes, anyone can do Pilates – and there will be a place for you somewhere in the many options out there. Ask questions, do trial classes, and sample a beginner series. Just start. As Joseph Pilates once said, “Change happens through movement, and movement heals.” So give Pilates a try!