What is Pilates?

Oh, Pilates. How do we describe thee? I can’t tell you how many times I have been asked “What is Pilates, exactly?” But I’m willing to guess it is about the same number of times I’ve struggled to answer it! I was talking with my husband last night about this very thing – how we both struggle to describe what I do. 

He was saying how when he’s tagged along to some of my Pilates conferences to relax by the pool, he has overheard other instructors discussing it. It even comes up in my own workshops and roundtables with other Pilates instructors! Why is Pilates such a tough concept to get across? I blame yoga. Okay – that’s not true. But I think that’s where the confusion begins for some people.

My husband went to a local gift shop to find me something for my 50th birthday recently. The owner was quizzing him on my interests to help guide him to the perfect gift. When he said “Pilates teacher,” she immediately said she had the perfect thing – and presented yoga mat spray. My poor hubby tried to explain that in Pilates we don’t use yoga mats, and ended up just feeling awkward when he couldn’t get his point across. 

Yes, if you look at mat Pilates alone, there are similarities to yoga. But that’s where the likeness ends. I wonder… Is it more important to define what Pilates is, or is it better to understand why we should practice it? 

The Simple Answer

The truth is that Pilates is a full movement system that includes the apparatus. Compare this to types of exercise like HIIT, cardio, and yes, even Yoga. You can get a cardio workout in so many ways, and there are many variations of yoga; but there is a method and order with Pilates. 

As I’ve been developing new programs in my business, the more I’ve been honing in on who my soulmate students are. I’ve also been looking inward and asking why I do Pilates myself. This has been an immense help in getting clear on how to describe what it is and does.  

Pilates is a system or method of movement that addresses all the ways to move your body. It is a thoughtful way of moving – gentle on the body while being challenging. It’s not about pushing to the point of fatigue or muscling through. Pilates teaches and requires you to use your small muscles, balance, coordination, and deep strength. 

Why Practice Pilates?

The more I look at Pilates, the less I think of it as “exercise.” I see it as a daily routine that will keep you mobile and strong so you’re able to do the activities and sports that you love. What do you love to do that you want to keep doing for years to come? For me, one of those things is running – and Pilates keeps me running with better form and fewer injuries. 

When you run, you take hundreds of repetitive strides where your foot hits the ground over and over. So if my foot mobility is poor, or it isn’t moving as it should, then any number of things can happen up the chain of my body. Tendons tighten, hips twist, muscles contract, and aches and pains show up. 

If my glutes are weak, I won’t have as much power when I push off the ground to move forward. I might start to overuse my quads or hip flexors, causing lower back pain and other tight muscles. 

I’ve been preaching the benefits of Pilates for years now, but this past year I’ve done more it more than ever before. Joseph Pilates felt we should do it every day, which I thought was a bit extreme. But now that I’ve been doing it five to seven times a week, I have to agree with the guy! 

I’ve never felt better in my running or other activities, and those nagging little aches are long gone. When I was doing Pilates two or three times a week, those aches and pains would subside or disappear for a while, but I’m not feeling them any more at all! I let my practice slide over the holidays, and yup – those aches showed back up. My shins were hurting and I noticed tightness in my calves when I went up and down the stairs. So, I went back to my daily practice. If I can brush my teeth twice a day, I can stop and do Pilates for fifteen minutes if it helps me keep running.

How to Practice Pilates

Practicing Pilates needs to be consistent to feel the full benefits, but it doesn’t need to take over your life. Some days, it’s my “exercise”, while other days it is a short mat workout to get me moving. Joseph Pilates suggested that you wake up and do fifteen minutes of your practice to start your day with movement. Now that I have experienced the full benefits of daily Pilates, I agree.

So, what is Pilates? It’s a system of movement that helps keep you strong, flexible, and mobile so you can keep doing everything you love to do. 

Ready to say goodbye to your nagging aches and pains? Maybe it’s time to welcome more movement into your life! Choose from in-person or virtual classes, or subscribe to my app to workout when it suits you.