FAQ’s
I require new clients to book at least one Introduction Appointment 1-on-1 session, but recommend a minimum of five sessions if possible. In these sessions I will provide a brief background on Pilates and the principles that make this method unique. I will assess your movement and possible restrictions and address your goals for your Pilates practice. Pilates is more than exercise, but rather a movement modality enriched by a set of principles. I encourage you to see your first Appointment as a learning experience and a foundation to build on going forward with your practice.
CAN I DO PILATES IF I’M NOT FLEXIBLE AND HAVE BAD BALANCE?
Yes! and Yes! You definitely don’t need to be flexible or have good balance to do Pilates. Regular Pilates will improve both.
Please wear comfortable workout clothing, without shoes. Socks or bare feet are best. Please do not wear shoes on the equipment, but do wear socks.
What is the duration of my session?
Classes are actively in session for 50 - 55 minutes. We encourage you to be punctual. Kindly declare your discomfort/pain or provide relative feedback about your well-being after your previous class session before the teaching commences.
HOW CAN BEGINNERS GET THE MOST BENEFIT FROM PILATES?
Be consistent, especially in the beginning. Don't just try it once. Give it a few shots and do it in succession.
HOW IS PILATES DIFFERENT FROM OTHER FORMS OF EXERCISE?
Pilates is different from most exercises out there because it's non-impact and safe, and it really works on using the body as a whole. You're either lying on your back, on your side or kneeling on the floor where it's safe. You're also working the body very evenly and symmetrically, making sure one side is not working harder than the other.
Pilates is still popular with dancers, gymnasts and athletes, but it is equally suitable for most men and women, from nine to 90, and beyond.
One of the beauties of Pilates is that it’s tailored to suit each person, whatever their age or physical condition.
Pilates is particularly suitable for…
- The middle-aged and elderly
- The desk-bound and inactive
- The pregnant and post-natal
- Those needing pre- and post-operation strengthening
- Those referred by their doctor, physio, osteopath, chiropractor or other practitioner
How often should I come?
People do Pilates anywhere from once a week to once a day – but twice a week is common and what we suggest for most clients.
Even if you just take just one session a week, you should try to do at least a few minutes of Pilates – whether at home or work – on a daily basis.
When can I expect to see results?
‘In ten sessions’, suggested Joseph Pilates himself, ‘you will feel the difference; in 20 you will see the difference; and in 30 you will have a whole new body’.
Most people do start to feel a difference after 10 sessions, getting the sense, for example, that they are walking taller and moving in a looser, suppler way.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE KEY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOGA AND PILATES?
There's definitely a mind-body connection and a very similar fluidity in both. But one difference is that there's a whole line of equipment in Pilates that doesn't exist in Yoga, so it provides a different angle: You're doing exercises with the assistance and resistance of springs and pulleys. The springs may assist you or they may make an exercise more difficult, depending on the exercise.
Pilates is more dynamic than Yoga, which places more emphasis on the static holding of certain poses.
Pilates also focuses more on strengthening the deepest layers of abdominal muscles, which form a corset around your torso.
If you have the time, there is no reason why you should not do both and get different benefits from each.
IS PILATES A CARDIOVASCULAR WORKOUT?
Initially the workout is slow moving because everything is being explained to you. Eventually, once you learn the workout and you're going through the motions, it becomes aerobic. You can get a cardiovascular workout when you're on the equipment and working on an advanced level because it's more physical. You have to work towards it, but Pilates can be cardiovascular.
PILATES MACHINES LOOK LIKE TORTURE DEVICES! WHY WOULD I WANT TO GET ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
Some Pilates equipment can look like some kind of medieval torture device, which is ironic because it makes you feel so good. The most commonly used pieces are the reformer, the cadillac and the mat, but there are several other small pieces of equipment, too.
The reformer is a rectangular frame with four legs and a cushioned mat, or carriage, that slides back and forth on wheels with the resistance of springs and pulleys.
The cadillac is a trapeze-like table that's 26 inches off the floor and has a canopy from which a trapeze, springs and pulleys hang. Because it's elevated, it's nice for older people if they have trouble getting down on the floor.
Finally, there's the mat — the ideal apparatus for Pilates because there's nothing helping you. It's only you, your body weight and your alignment making the exercises fluid, controlled and precise.