Question about pilates?

[lwseymour]

I'm rather confused about pilates. I tried the Method's "Target Specifics" and "All in One Workout" and actually enjoyed it. In fact, I loved the gentler way of working out for a change. (My tricep is still strained and I'm beginning to wonder "if" it's ever gonna heal). Is all this attention about pilates just "hype" and a new way for someone to make money, or can pilates really give you a body like Jennifer Kries and Moira Stott. I just find it hard to believe that these ladies can look that awesome by doing these gentle workouts. I never feel "whipped" after doing a full pilates workout like I do when I'm finished with a Cathe tape. Would somebody give me your opinion on pilates? Does anybody know Cathe's opinion on pilates? Thanks.
Lisa (Who can't wait for Rythmic Step besides me?)

 

[Debra]

Hi Lisa,

Pilates, yoga, tai chi, fitness balls are all the rage because they strengthen the core (torso) & are generally gentle on the body. We're learning that core strength is essential to all sorts of fitness activities (cycling to baseball) & helps the inactive avoid or minimize back problems. These trendy activities also help people with muscle balance or symmetry. Obviously all ball sports are assymetrical & foster an inbalance but even running & cycling enthusiasts can suffer from aches or injuries caused by muscle inbalance. We all have a dominate leg, arm, eye along with a dominant hand.

These type of workouts can also help with flexibility which not only helps prevent injuries & relieve aches but improves performance by increasing ones range of motion.

I don't think Kries or Stott earned their physiques through Pilates matwork alone. The probably do plenty of work on the Reformer which looks like a midievel torture device but functions as a horizontal Universal set. You can stand or sit on it. It has pulleys which you can hold with your ankles or arms with resistance provided by springs. The Stott website shows several pieces of Pilates equipment. One could certainly do all of their strength work on the equipment. If I won the Lotto, I'd love to do 2 weekly sessions on the Reformer with a trainer. (And head to Europe with my bike..!)

In mat classes, we used rings, bands, fitness balls & even hand weights for arm & leg resistance work. I didn't consider it a replacement for my strength training because we'd only do 1 set for each muscle group. But it could provide all the strength training one needs. You probably have to decide how strong you want to be to determine if it would be adequate for you. Stott has videos that use the ring & bands for strength work if you're interested. Stott recommends combining Pilates with cardio work for a complete fitness program.

Personally I'm using Pilates mat work for torso strength, flexibility & diaphragm breathing. Still doing my strength work with iron, some traditional ab work & heading outside for most cardio. I love how I feel after a Pilates session - it's nice not to feel wiped out!

Debra

 

[cinza]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON May-15-01 AT 09:53PM (Est)[/font][p]

jennifer kries and Moira have dancers bodies and both have been professional dancers.. Ballet, i think for both.

Have you ever been to a ballet class?
Its fabulous work for all body parts... and if you have:

the right body structure, bones, muscle etc...

you can get a body like that..if you work really hard...like dancers do.

Lots of people can NOT get that body no matter what they do...they just were not made that way...

Professional dancers tend to get selected because of their body conformity to a standard as well as their talent...
(my mother was a professional ballerina in New York .....and will tell you eating disorders are very common with dancers.. If they dont look like that they dont get work...But then dance isnt cardio work so they dont burn up as many calories even if they work very hard)

Anyhow I do Pilates and after 5 months I would SWEAR its a superior form of ab work...
a pilates class is one hour of concentrated work.. not just 7 minutes tacked on the back of some other workout.
Pilates works deeper and around the whole torso, not just the muscles you see for the 6 pack look...it works the muscles that really hold the body up and the guts in, it works little muscles we dont even pay attention to and it works the pelvic floor.

Pilates teaches you how to support and protect your lower back in any venture.... this is very good sitting at a desk or lifting weights.

I never could sit very straight for very long... It hurt like crazy..
but now after 5 months of pilates i RATHER sit straight instead of lean back on a chair!

Pilates is 70 years old and until recently has been used mostly by dancers and those in gymnastics for conditioning, strengthening, and injury rehab....
Its a brilliantly concieved set of exercises.

If you get interested.
Stotts is excellent for the most updated and true pilates you will find on tape.

But the principals can be found in other people's "core" work also.
Great STuff..
no hype.. its real..... and very valuable even if its a craze!

 

[lwseymour]

Thank you Debra and Cinza for your very informative, thoughtful replies. I enjoyed the pilates video so much that I was curious if I can give up strength training with weights entirely, and use pilates for full body strength. Does anybody know if pilates also helps to prevent osteoporosis as regular weight training does? I guess my question is "can I use pilates (rings, bands, etc) for my strength training and completely leave out weight training? I am not wanting to be defined, but rather just firm (no jiggling). I would probably go back to weight training someday and alternate the two, but I'm just looking for a change for a while. I love cardio and never get tired of it, but strength training tends to become kinda boring at times.
Has either of you ever tried Voight's pilates-inspired tapes.
The one with the resist-a-ring looks interesting and so does the abs & back tape. Or do you find that it's best to stick only with Moira. Sorry for so many questions. By the way, (if you need to know to answer my question - I don't have access to any of the pilates machines, I am referring to matwork only).

Thanks so much!!!
Lisa

 

[cinza]

I have the Voight tapes and like them ... she does her own thing with the pilates.....

I have all the stotts tapes and they are superior for pilates......but the voight tapes are good too.

i wont answer anything about pilates replacing weights in excercise....

its possible while weights are fast results and good for adding muscle that there are some other options for weight "bearing" excercise..
do you like walking? running? I think they do...

i dont think biking qualifies...
You might read some books like Strong Women Stay YOung...

do you like resistance bands? I am always raving about them somewhere in this forum....


there are several schools of pilates.. and I have seen new tapes come out very recently from several sources now that the trademark war on the name "pilates" is ended.

Do you like yoga? You might if you like Pilates.....

take care.

 

[Debra]

Hi Lisa

Just to show you can't please everyone, I don't care for the Voight's Body Reform tapes, though I generally love her videos. IMO, the workouts lack the controlled movement & integrated breathing that is essential to Pilates.

I prefer the Stott circle to the Voight circle. The Voight circle has less tension so you get the satisfaction of squishing the sides together which Hercules couldn't do with the Stott circle. I like the extra resistance. The Voight circle is fully padded.

I wouldn't consider matwork weight bearing exercise for the lower body. So make sure your cardio activities include weight bearing activities. As for the upper-body, you need to use some resistance device - rings, tubing, bands, etc.

I highly recommend Brooke Siler's book "The Pilates Body". It's a great supplement to the videos when you're trying to master the moves. It also gives beginner modifications.

Have fun!
Debra

 

[cinza]

RE: Hi Lisa AND Debbie

i have to agree with Debbie (i wasnt that clear in my last note) ..... the Voight tapes really are Not great Pilates tapes..

i just happen to like them as something in that catagory for a light conditioning day.

...but if i was to do a Pilates workout outside of my classes or privates......it would be the Stotts.

I also agree the Pilates Body is a good book. I was impressed by the pilates for dummies.. or idiots guide ...which ever it was.

the rest of the pilates books seem to leave stuff out.

THe Pilates Body has great illustration to help you get the idea of anchoring that midsection

By the way...I have been doing some neat plie work using the Stotts circle ...
tucking the hips while squeezing it all ..inner thighs and glutes.... and pelvic floor. .. i am thinking this is one of the most intense moves i have found...I bet its very effective.

 

[murph]

RE: Absolutely agree with every word

of Cinza's answer on Pilates. I find it very valuable; but like anything else: it cannot stand ALONE in a rounded fitness program, but is definitely a part of it.

 

[Cyndie]

RE: Absolutely agree with every word

I wanted to respond to the question about Pilates replacing traditional weight training for osteoporosis. My opinion would be no. To really strengthen bones you have to place resistance/weights on different parts of the skeleton. High impact aerobics, step, running, etc. do strengthen bones also but weight training is a great way to make sure a variety of bones are benefitting. I would also like to comment on weight training in general. About one to two years ago the American College of Sports Medicine (it's like the American Medical Association for fitness) changed it's long held policy. They removed cardio from being the number one habit to adopt and changed it to weight training. I believe it is so important to do on a consistent basis. I would recommend that you continue and not give it up. Pilates has its place but there is no substitute for vigorous weight training.

I appreciated so much what Cinza said about those women having dancers bodies. It is something I always suspected. It kind of irritates me that they are not more up front about it.

Best wishes, Cyndie