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Every day we see the good name of Pilates being misused, in the media, by journalists and by training centres that are simply unaware of what Pilates really is. This is unfortunate and serious, because Pilates is a proven method that can change people's quality of life.
Those of us who have been trained in the method and have worked with it for decades know what it takes: Years of education, immersion, curiosity and a lot of hard work. We've learnt from some of the world's best teachers. And we cherish that knowledge because we see every day that the Pilates method produces lasting results and has proven its worth for more than 100 years.
Pilates is more than exercise.
It's a method that relieves pain, helps injuries and corrects imbalances in the body - while preventing new problems by strengthening the body from within and creating stability, mobility and balance.
Teaching Pilates is neither simple nor something you learn in a weekend course. It's technically demanding, it's nerdy, and it requires years of training, observation and understanding of movement and anatomy. That's why Pilates produces lasting results when taught correctly.
Yet we see a wave of ignorance and misleading marketing: fitness chains and reformer studios with large classes, loud music and instructors who call themselves “Pilates instructors” after a few weekends. Calling regular fitness training at a reformer a Pilates class is actually a false labelling.
It's important that people seeking Pilates understand the difference - not least for their health. Reformer fitness can be a fun and effective workout, but it's not Pilates. Pilates is a method. A philosophy. A system. Not randomly choreographed exercises.
Let's break the misconceptions and stick to the truth.
