yoga/pilates rant

You really need to have a progressive program and it's hard to do that with just body weight. Using a resistance is probably going to be more useful with the idea of progression which is what you are going to need to maintain bone density. That's not to say that body weight exercises don't help. But if your goal is to get strong and keep your bone density, then I would say if I had to pick one, I would pick resistance training. Both are very good though.

Carolyn
 
>I agree with you Carolyn.
>
>My workout life includes various forms of cardio, weights, AND
>pilates and yoga. I am a firm believer each form of exercise
>enhances the other.

Very well said....Ditto:)

Robin
 
Thanks for starting this interesting thread, Carolyn! Count me as another who agrees with you, but then, you're probably preaching to the choir here at Cathe.com.:)
 
Good post, Carolyn.

I'm about to start taking pilates reformer classes, and I am really looking forward to it. You have confirmed that my expectations are realistic. I do not associate pilates with weight loss at all in a physical way. I know that comes from eating right and doing cardio.

I don't think my strength training was core-oriented enough, and I'm expecting the pilates to help me to be strong enough to hold a barbell without having lower back pain. I'm also expecting to feel more stretched, less tense, and be more in touch with my physicality. Psychologically, if I'm enjoying the pilates classes and feel better, knowing me, I'll eat a bit better and take better care of myself just to avoid cognitive dissonance.

-Nancy
 
>Good post, Carolyn.
>
>I'm about to start taking pilates reformer classes, and I am
>really looking forward to it. You have confirmed that my
>expectations are realistic. I do not associate pilates with
>weight loss at all in a physical way. I know that comes from
>eating right and doing cardio.
>
>I don't think my strength training was core-oriented enough,
>and I'm expecting the pilates to help me to be strong enough
>to hold a barbell without having lower back pain. I'm also
>expecting to feel more stretched, less tense, and be more in
>touch with my physicality. Psychologically, if I'm enjoying
>the pilates classes and feel better, knowing me, I'll eat a
>bit better and take better care of myself just to avoid
>cognitive dissonance.
>


Nancy,
I truly love the reformer and I really hope you enjoy your first class as well:). I really it is the main reason I don't have any back pain at my age with my scoliosis (my physician is still amazed). I hope it works for your back as well.

Unlike standard mat Pilates workouts you CAN and I FREQUENTLY DO cardio on a reformer with a jumpboard (or rebounder as other companies call it). I have the luxury of owning my own reformer so I can do 40 minutes of jumping at home and believe me...it can be quite a cardio workout. I do totally agree with Caroline that Mat and Standard Reformer Classes are not in any way cardio workouts and many people are misguided into believing they are by false claims. It's a shame, but it shouldn't make Pilates any less valuable a workout (just strictly weight lifting is not cardio either if you don't get your heart rate up). It has done wonders for me and more importantly I have fun:)

Enjoy it in good health,
Robin:)

ETA: And IMO we should never discount the mental benefits of yoga or pilates...
 
I don't do a lot of yoga or pilates, but I know what you mean about the hype. It seems most workouts nowdays, including yoga and pilates, say they are 'for weight loss." And the 'develop longer, leaner muscles" Pilates spiel seems too be used by everyone.

YOu would think yoga especially would have more intengrity than that (making false claims), but I guess everybody wants to sell their product, and getting 'longer muscles" or "losing weight" appeals to the customer. I guess the real benefits of both disciplines isn't as appealing to most people and wouldn't sell as well.
 
I think everyone has made great points so far. I do Winsor pilates three or four times a week, and I like the way it feels. I completely agree that there is way too much hype about it, though. When I hear people say that they have lost five dress sizes in three months by doing pilates three times a week – and not changing their eating habits – I cringe. Maybe these are just really lucky people!

One thing I must credit pilates with is strengthening my core. When I use pilates in addition to weight training, I notice that I can lift more. While the claims might be false, I think if you find something you like, be it pilates or something else, and you stick to it, then that is a good thing.

One thing I am sure of is that I am so very glad Cathe does not make crazy claims about her workouts or sell them to the masses on infomercials!!!
 
This is a really interesting thread. I can see where different types of workouts will give your muscles a different shape--eg, weight training might add more bulk; cardio leans you out. And that ballet dancer look also comes from, among other things, years of training to have great posture and to keep your neck long, hours and hours of classes every day, and not a lot of food. Twenty minutes a day 3 times a week won't do it.

Beyond the hype, though, I was wondering: If you're already in shape, doing cardio and working out with weights, would doing pilates change how you look in any way? For instance, if Cathe started doing Pilates regularly, would it change the look of her body somehow? I'm not making a judgement for or against Pilates (or any other exercise)--just curious.
 
Beyond the hype, though, I was wondering: If you're already in shape, doing cardio and working out with weights, would doing pilates change how you look in any way? For instance, if Cathe started doing Pilates regularly, would it change the look of her body somehow? I'm not making a judgement for or against Pilates (or any other exercise)--just curious.




BunBun, good question. Regarding this, I'd like to hear from those who've been doing pilates and yoga for a long time.

TIA
 
I'll reply since I've been doing pilates for awhile now. In fact, I do it upwards of 5 times a week. For me, it has changed nothing in how my body appears. I am not "longer" or "leaner" or "dancer like" because of pilates. This is where the misconceptions start IMO. Pilates cannot change the way you look AT ALL. I'm not even convinced it could lean you out. Leaning out has to do more with what you eat and how much cardio/weight training you do. Since pilates really cannot provide either to the extent of tradional cardio and WT, then it cannot change your body. In regards to the reformer, you are mostly in lying down positions so your HR could never get as high as when you are standing up, so it doesn't offer much of a cardio work either.
Also, like I said earlier, I've known quite a few pilates/yoga people who do nothing but pilates and yoga and are overweight or naturally skinny. Either way, they are certainly not fit. I'm convinced that anyone who says you can change your body or lean out from yoga or pilates is trying to sell you a lie.

Carolyn
 
>Beyond the hype, though, I was wondering: If you're already in
>shape, doing cardio and working out with weights, would doing
>pilates change how you look in any way? For instance, if Cathe
>started doing Pilates regularly, would it change the look of
>her body somehow? I'm not making a judgement for or against
>Pilates (or any other exercise)--just curious.

I can't speak for anyone else nor would I ever choose to....I've been doing Pilates for years and somehow I always seem to find some revelation about my body and discover a new way to deepen the effects of the exercise. That's exciting and that's why I enjoy it and will continue to do it for years to come. (Needless to say, I wouldn't continue to do it if I didn't feel I got physical results or benefits.)

I say if you don't think you get results, just don't do it and do what works for you. Nuff said.

Robin
ETA: Sorry you're not enjoying it Carolyn....it's just my hobby not my job (like any other exercise) so I can enjoy it.
 
I'd guess that once your body is in top shape like Cathe's is, pilates isn't going to do much to enhance its appearance. It may have other positive effects however. And Robin, your body is in AWESOME condition and it seems that pilates is doing great things for you. Here are my feelings on the subject. I agree with Carolyn's original post that too many people think that pilates is going to help with weight loss and achieving that idealized supermodel/dancer long lean physique. I tried windsor pilates for a while and personally found it to be such a waste of precious time. I am quite fit and strong, and I am working on losing weight. I still need to lose around 25-35 lbs. of body fat. Doing strengh, cardio, and circuit workouts along with counting calories is the ONLY thing that has worked for me. I don't have unlimited amounts of time to spend working out, and given my fitness goals I consider pilates to be a frill that would contribute nothing to my workout routine. I'd rather take a leisurely walk with DH than hold pilates poses while lounging around on the floor (sorry, this is what pilates was like for me! I do know that there is more to it than that). I've got a busy life and goals to reach and I hate wasting any time. I do understand that many love pilates and that's great for them. It can help with breathing, posture, core strength and can have a meditative quality that many enjoy. But I really do have a problem with how many women are latching on to pilates and yoga when what they really need is to lose weight and build muscle mass and bone density. What they need is lots of cardio, weight work, and good nutrition. I also think that it can be risky to try pilates if you are dealing with pain of some sort. Sure it may help, but I think it's probably more effective to see a physical therapist who is trained to diagnose and treat pain, and who knows what exercises will help you most given your particular problems. I think pilates is being marketed to women as a glamourous celebrity workout and that is such crap. Personally, IF I was in perfect physical condition and IF I had all the time in the world to devote to my body (huge "ifs" that, let's be honest, will probably never happen!), I still don't think I'd do pilates. I'd probably rather do anything: volunteer to a worthy cause, call a friend, read a book. I'd probably rather watch paint dry! But, of course that's just me, and again, if something works for you and makes you feel great, you should do it.

amy
 
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