Keep in mind: Isn’t pilates just yoga?
Keep in mind is a blog series that exists as an online source of education to enhance your training but most importantly your overall well-being. We only get one body - it’s important we learn about it and look after it!
I’m Lauren - owner of grae pilates and pilates instructor at Habitual. I’ll be writing and running the keep in mind series. It seemed fitting for my first blog post to be something very much in my arena - what is pilates?
“isn’t pilates just yoga?” “I’m not flexible enough to do pilates”
Questions and statements heard time and time again by pilates instructors.
The answers:
no it isn’t just yoga.
there is an element of flexibility involved, we would call it more mobility, but it is not the main purpose.
Let’s go back to the very beginning.
It all began with this man; the guru, the OG, pilates King, the founder: Joseph Pilates.
He was providing rehabilitation for soldiers during the war, using springs. The doctors noticed a remarkable recovery rate of the soldiers that partook in Mr Pilates’ exercises - proving their effectiveness.
He then went back to New York and created the technique he founded “Pilates”. Very humble of him to name it after himself, to be honest I’d do the exact same (and basically have with my business grae). Circling back, with his wife and a small team trained by him, he created the original classical pilates series. What started as a small studio, with apparatus that he created himself - some from at home. The reformer, what we use at habitual, was the main event in each client’s session.
Joseph was a very interesting man. Fun fact: he thought sexual intercourse was the funnest thing, so everything should be like it. Think: feet in straps for inner thigh series, nutcracker - it makes a bit of sense where the origin of these came from. What a man!
Over time, and lots of drama involved that we don’t have time from (yes, tea), pilates transcended into a more contemporary and modern versions. It is unknown what Joseph thinks of this and his original instructors all have their own opinions.
At habitual we see pilates as a practice, a way to connect mind, breath, and body. Not dissimilar to yoga, it requires presence and that is anchored by breath and movement. We believe it should surround functional movement and programmed with a purpose. Perhaps even a progressive program for each week with our same group.
So next time you’re doing an exercise in class, know that it is there for a purpose, for a reason, and to progress you and your body.
There is so much to be said about pilates, movement, breath, wellness - I probably could talk forever - those who come to my class know I essentially do. So, this is what we will be talking about in the keep in mind series.
PS - If you are interested in learning more about the origins of Pilates, an interesting read is “Caged Lion” by John Howard Steel. It describes Joseph Pilates and Pilates origins. It is also a super easy read!
