Pilates Help

[RBurke]

HI all.
I have a couple of questions. Yesterday, I decided to do a pilates tape that I've had for a long time with my husband. It is Stott Pilates Essential Matwork. My hubbie is very stiff so I thought it would help him. We did the entire tape. I've heard that it is really important to do the moves correctly with Pilates. I must say that I feel that I didn't do many of the moves correctly. I couldn't really feel anything stretching on some of the moves and even hurt my elbows on something called a seal move. I hurt my toes on another (yep, my toes). I don't feel sore at all today from any of the ab or lower back work but my neck is sore. So, I can't afford a membership to a Pilates gym. I wanted to do some basic stuff at home. Is there a better tape out there? Should I just keep trying? What if I am doing the moves wrong? Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[Debra]

I'm trying not to laugh - how'd you hurt your elbow on the seal? If this workout has the clapping, then it's probably not an intro to Pilates tape.

To answer some of your questions, if your neck hurts, it's because you were straining too hard. Follow the modifications & even support your head with hand while you build ab strength. Go slowly & only to the point where you're challenging your muscles. Pilates is about quality, not quantity, of movement.

I really like Stott's intermediate tape. I've heard her beginners tape is very good. My Pilates instructor recommended Stott tapes but it's really just important to use workouts by Pilates people (Stott, The Method, Living Arts) rather than fitness gurus doing their interpretation of Pilates (Voight, Austin).

As for better beginner tapes, I've read good things about Pilates for Dummies. I'm really enjoying Suzanne Deason's videos & she has a new Pilates tape out (Living Arts).

Good for your husband to join you. My guy is rather inflexible & rarely works on it.

 

[kimroberts]

I have the Pilates for Dummies tape. It is really good. Ana Caban has two matwork tapes out through Living Arts. She is Stott trained but she has a little more personality than Moira Stott.

In Pilates form is so crucial, more so than any other type of exercise in my opinion. I did tapes at home when I started and thought I was doing great -- I'm a fitchick, been exercising for 15+ years, this stuff is easy!!!!

Right!!!!

Then I went to a class with a live instructor in the room, she was trained by the Physicalmind Institute which broke off from Stott over some basic theory dispute -- I think that's how I heard it.

But boy! When someone corrected my form and I did it correctly, even this fitchick was back to the most modified form of every exercise. And was I ever sore the next day.

Spend the money, just one time, to get a professionally trained person to go through all the matwork exercises if you want to continue to do Pilates. Consider it an investment in your health.

 

[Dawn W]

RE: Pilates Help Flexbands????

Just wondering Has anyone tried Pilates with Flexbands? Does this help with form and make it a little bit easier? I have some Intermediate Pilates tapes and while I usually consider myself advanced I have found my core (especially lower ab area) is weak and need beginner tapes. Would the flexband tapes be a better start?
Dawn W

 

[Debra]

RE: Pilates Help Flexbands????

I haven't used a video w/ bands but in mat class we used bands. Beginners & those w/ weaker abs or back issues used them to modify traditional moves. We all used them for upper body work & for stretching. I'd forgotten how useful the bands are for starting out.

 

[kimroberts]

RE: Pilates Help Flexbands????

I guess I'm getting old, but I like it the traditional way. I bought the magic circle or whatever they call it, and also the bands. But after teaching it for 6 months, I abandoned the props and I do everything very traditionally, with modifications for fitness levels.

It's true. If you're doing it correctly, it only gets harder with every workout. When I don't have new people in the class, I actually participate most of the way through class. I groan the loudest!!!!!

 

[SteppingFool]

I am also trying to start on Pilates. From the search I did in the forum, it seems to me that the most recommended tape for beginners is Living Arts w/ Ana Caban (www.livingarts.com). There are 2 gyms in town that offered punch cards for their classes (since I know we live around the same area) - you might want to check that out. They do not offer personal classes, but the classes they offered are usually small. However, you might want to wait till the New Year's rush is over... I am!

Haslina

 

[Debra]

dance studios too

Dance & yoga studios often offer mat classes too. You actually might get a more experienced instructor at a dance studio. And boy are the dancers limber!