When to Use Modifications in Pilates

I often talk about how Pilates is meant for every body. There are progressions to the exercises for those who are ready, and modifications for those who are still building strength, mobility, and flexibility. But… Modifications in Pilates aren’t always the best solution! Many years ago, I would have thought so, but I was still learning myself. These days, I believe that yes, modifications are the right choice for some people – but not everyone. 

What Changed My Mind

After thirty (!) years of teaching (fitness) and 20 years teaching Pilates, I’ve learned so much more. This has come from working with so many varied clients as a Pilates teacher and personal trainer; investing in training programs, workshops, and conferences; and seeking advice from mentors in the industry as well as health practitioners such as RMTs, chiropractors, physiotherapists, and even surgeons and doctors that I know. 

From my first Pilates training to the ones I have taken more recently, I have learned how to tell if a client is ready to move on to a more challenging exercise. Sometimes it takes having them try it.  If they can’t do it, it becomes a matter of breaking it down; giving them portions of the exercise to work on, but not modifying it. What I’ve learned from using modifications in Pilates is that the client will tend to just keep modifying for months and even years. They never will get the strength, mobility, or coordination that might be missing to eventually be able to execute the exercise in its full form.  

With an experienced eye and understanding of the system, you start to see that the client may be lacking strength in a certain area of their body, or they rush, don’t breathe, or maybe aren’t connecting to their center. This all is a lot of “Pilates speak” that goes over the head of many, including Pilates teachers.  It went over my head at one point too.  You are only ready to understand when you are ready.  

People Learn in Different Ways

One of the biggest things I’ve come to understand is that people learn in so many different ways. So, while breaking an exercise down for one person may help them get it, others will need a different approach. It may be doing the same exercise on a different apparatus that will give them the “aha!” moment. Then there are exercises that don’t seem related at all, but are actually linked to the end goal of that tough exercise. Sometimes what seems to be the exact opposite movement pattern is the missing piece a client needs. It could also just be that they need to keep practicing Pilates for a bit longer so they become stronger or more aware of their movement and control, which they then bring back to that challenging exercise later. When you use modifications to accomplish an exercise, you miss all of these nuances that the system of Pilates is built on. 

Progress, Not Perfection

Pilates is not about achieving one exercise or perfection – it’s about moving your body well and building the foundations so you can be strong, mobile, and flexible enough to do all the things you love to do in life. Due to body composition, past injuries, and other factors, some people may never accomplish every Pilates exercise. So what if you can’t master boomerang? Some exercises will simply never be for you, and that’s okay – you’ll still reap the many benefits of Pilates without it.