As a certified Pilates instructor I’d like to think I know a thing or two about the subject. But I try to not be a snob about it, even though I am at times, (at least I admit it!). I love taking classes from other instructors to not only challenge myself but also to learn something new or get a great idea for a new exercise that I can teach in my own class. But I have a big problem with taking a class claiming to be “Mat Pilates” and having it be some hodge-podge of exercises mixed in with a few true Pilates movements.
The average gym rat doesn’t know Jack about Joe (Joseph Pilates that is), so they just assume that they are being taught some serious Pilates when in fact maybe 10% or less is actual Pilates. This troubles me. I took one of these “Pilates” classes the other night and someone asked me if this class was classical Pilates. This teacher, though quite good, only taught ONE classical Pilates exercise the whole hour. I got a great full body workout, so I am not knocking her teaching skills and she did use the Pilates breathing with the proper abdominal contractions, but her class was super contemporary. We did squats and arm work that is untraditional to Pilates. The class is misinforming and misleading to students who think they are getting true Pilates. They leave her class thinking, “Wow, I just got a great Pilates workout”, and go tell other people about. Her class should be titled, “Contemporary Pilates” or “Pilates Fusion”, because her class was a mashup of many types of exercises.
Oh, and what’s up with the Pilates Bootcamp classes!? Don’t get me started! The words Pilates and Bootcamp should never be said in the same sentence. Joseph Pilates is rolling in his grave right now, I assure you. Your Pilates workout should be challenging but should never be as painful as the term bootcamp implies. I’ve taken that class and it ALSO is not Pilates.
I applaud all of you teachers out there who are going the distance to properly educate your Pilates students one by one. After 50 plus years, most people are still unaware of what Pilates is. Everyone can benefit from learning Pilates, the original way, and once you have the core understanding feel free to continue your Pilates journey any way you see fit.
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