Introduction
There’s a lot of misinformation about Pilates out there but pilates instructor course will get you started to become an expert. You may have heard that it only works for women in their 50s, or that you have to have a fancy studio membership to do it. But the truth is that Pilates is one of the best exercises you can do for your body and mind, regardless of your age or gender. To help dispel some common myths I’ve heard over the years, here are some things most Pilates instructors won’t tell you:
Pilates is for everyone
Pilates is for everyone, from beginners to experts. It’s a great way to improve flexibility and core strength, balance and posture, so that you can perform better on the mat or in the ring.
If you want to get in great shape with less impact on your joints than running or weight lifting, then Pilates is for you!
Pilates doesn’t require a ton of equipment
Pilates is a bodyweight exercise, and that means you can do it wherever you have a floor.
You don’t need a Pilates machine to get in shape. All you need is yourself and a few basic props—a mat or towel, some resistance bands and/or dumbbells (if you want to up the intensity level), possibly an exercise ball if your core strength isn’t quite there yet.
And while it’s true that having access to more advanced equipment like reformers or sliders will help enhance your workouts and make them more challenging, many people get just as much out of doing Pilates at home with just their own bodies (and some simple props).
There are many forms of Pilates
There are many forms of Pilates, and they’re not all the same. You might have heard that Pilates is just for women and older people, but in fact it’s a great workout for anyone who wants to improve their strength, balance, and flexibility.
Pilates can also help people with back problems because it focuses on core stability rather than using large muscles like the biceps or pecs as stabilizers (think about a squat compared to a plank). This is why some studios offer special classes for people with injuries or mobility issues—the movement will be modified so you can still get an effective workout without putting pressure on your body in ways that might exacerbate pain or joint damage.
Knees should be pointed straight ahead when doing the Hundred
- Knees should be pointed straight ahead when doing the Hundred.
- Focus on keeping your core tight, as this will help you maintain proper form.
- If you feel pain in your knees, stop and consult with a certified instructor.
You may still experience pain after strengthening your core
It’s not uncommon to experience pain after doing a Pilates session. While this pain is usually mild and temporary, it can be a sign of injury, inflammation or muscle imbalance. Pain that occurs in the low back, neck or shoulders is often due to poor posture and breathing technique (i.e., you’re arching your lower back while inhaling). If your abdominals are weak because of this habit and you practice Pilates regularly during pregnancy (when abdominal strength is already compromised), there’s an increased risk of developing pelvic floor dysfunction after delivery due to pressure on the pelvic organs.
Getting out of the habit of doing crunches is hard
You may be thinking, a core workout is good for my back. But the truth is crunches are not the only way to strengthen your core and they can lead to injuries.
The exercise that has been recommended by most fitness experts for strengthening your midsection (or “abs”) is called planks. Planks are great because they keep you from hunching over when doing them or tipping backwards into an unsafe position with your low back arched like it does during crunches. They also help improve posture and balance, which will help prevent injury down the road if you’re already dealing with pain due to poor posture or weak muscles that support your backside.
Certified instructors train extensively to make sure exercises are done correctly.
If you’re new to Pilates, you may think that all instructors are alike—that a certified instructor is just an advanced version of a regular instructor. But the reality is that certified instructors have been trained extensively to make sure exercises are done correctly and effectively. So when you work with a certified instructor, you can be assured that your technique will be spot-on from day one.
Likewise, if you’re trying to lose weight or improve your overall health and fitness level, this means that your instructor will be able to help guide and direct you towards specific fitness goals based on their own expertise as well as their experience working with other clients with similar goals. And finally, because they have extensive training in correcting common mistakes in Pilates movements (many of which come from improper form), they will also be able to help correct any issues related to proper technique before they become bigger problems later on down the road!
Conclusion
The key takeaway here is that Pilates is for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or advanced, young or old (or even pregnant) — as long as you have a good instructor and are willing to try new things, then you’ll be able to benefit from this exercise technique.