subject: Popular Pilates Training: What's Missing? [print this page] Pilates training has been around over 80 years and so, while I do see the faddishness fading out, I believe it will endure as an everlasting exercise. It offers such real value in pain relief, rehabilitation, and proper muscular development. But there's a lot that's been left out from Pilates original training.
Let me first give you a small insight on Joseph Pilates, a German of little delicacy. I know, I've seen old video clips of his training. WOW! If I threw women around like that today, I'd have no clients.
Anyway, I have the two published works of Pilates. The man had some very strict philosophies, principles, and theories. Not to say that his revolutionary impact on the world of fitness can not evolve. It definitely has. However, one of the absolute tenets of his work was the balance of mind and body. The basic principles are frequently neglected in many so-called Pilates training studios, and those are, in fact, what make it Pilates.
An hour of Pilates instruction should have you mostly engrossed in proper body mechanics, not the latest gossip. There are so many precise movements coordinated into each exercise to gain maximum benefit, to balance mind and body.
Here's a direct quote that really impresses upon you the idea:
"Concentrate on the correct movement EACH TIME YOU EXERCISE, lest you do them improperly and thus lose all the vital benefits of their value. Correctly executed and mastered to the point of subconscious reaction, these exercises will reflect grace and balance in your routine activities."
Before I leave off with my ranting, there is one more thing. Because you can do all the exercises in the world, but will not be healthy and fit without considering your food choices. Another quote from the man himself says,
"The principal point to remember with regard to diet is to eat only enough food to restore the 'fuel' consumed by the body"...
And also, "Merely eating to satisfy one's lust for good food is both foolish and dangerous to one's health. Such a person cannot ever be truly physically fit."
And in conclusion, "Not only the amount of food but also the kind"...
So a true Pilates training would include not just guidance through precise exercises but a holistic approach involving all areas affecting the body/mind equilibrium. If you are looking for that coveted Pilates body, think about whether your Pilates training offers guidance on nutrition and taking your Pilates principles into everyday life.
