#POWEROFPILATES: TELLING FACT FROM FICTION
Pilates, as an exercise system, has been around for a century. Ironically, while people know the celebs who practise it, they are often unsure of what Pilates is, and who should be practising it. There are many myths that I keep coming across. These misconceptions stop people from reaping the true benefits of Pilates. Let’s debunk the most common ones.
PILATES IS FOR WOMEN
Many believe that Pilates is only for women. It’s easy to forget that this exercise system was developed by a man, Joseph Pilates, while rehabilitating prisoners during World War I. Using his method of contrology, he helped soldiers recover from injuries, and invented equipment such as cadillac, reformer, wunda chair, spine corrector, ladder barrel and Pilates ring. Pilates can’t be a gender-specific regime. It’s equally beneficial for both men and women.
PILATES IS FOR REHAB
The notion that Pilates is only for rehabilitating injuries is not true. It is a completely adaptable practice based on the needs of a person. A movement/exercise can be made easy or challenging using equipment with spring resistance and playing with base of support/balance. Pilates is part of an athlete’s practice, even when they are not injured — golfer Tiger Woods, footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and basketball player LeBron James, as well as cricketer Hardik Pandya do Pilates regularly to stay injuryfree, and to work on smaller muscles and add more fluidity to
their movements.
PILATES JUST BUILDS CORE STRENGTH
Pilates goes way beyond core strength. It aims at uniform development of the body. It improves posture, flexibility, muscle endurance, balance, coordination and strength. It was Pilates that taught me to view my body as a whole unit made of different parts when exercising, not a set of parts.
PILATES IS LIKE YOGA
Our body can move in a finite number of ways. These movement practices follow different breathing styles. Pilates is more about the flow of exercises. Mat Pilates, for instance, is a flow of connected exercises that should be done as one continuous system. While both Pilates and yoga work towards uniting the mind, body and spirit, the movement approach in both these techniques vary. Pilates is practised on a mat as well as with resistance-based equipment, and the focus is on the physical body. Calmness of the mind is the consequence of the movement, whereas in yoga, the focus on mind, body and soul is the instrument itself to achieve a higher level of emotional and spiritual consciousness.
ONE NEEDS TO BE FLEXIBLE TO DO PILATES
You do not have to be flexible to do Pilates. Flexibility is one of the benefits of practising Pilates regularly. It will help you improve flexibility and range of motion.
PILATES IS TOO EASY
Many think that Pilates doesn’t make you sweat, which isn’t true. One needs to engage both dominant and non-dominant muscles to do Pilates with proper technique and form. Pilates is not a superficial form of exercise; as you engage muscles properly, your core temperature increases and you sweat. If the fundamentals or principles of Pilates — Breath, Control, Concentration, Centering, Precision and Flow — are not being incorporated, then it is not Pilates. Pilates is a mindful practice and the exercises can be challenging and simultaneously rejuvenating for all fitness levels.
Vesna Jacob is a Pilates trainer and wellness expert
PILATES GOES WAY BEYOND CORE STRENGTH. IT AIMS AT UNIFORM DEVELOPMENT OF THE BODY. THIS EXERCISE SYSTEM IMPROVES YOUR POSTURE, FLEXIBILITY, MUSCLE ENDURANCE, COORDINATION, BALANCE AS WELL AS STRENGTH.