Is Pilates suitable for all ages and levels of fitness?
Pilates is both suitable and beneficial for people of any age or physical ability. If you are seeking to improve your general fitness, strength, coordination, or flexibility, Pilates may be a good choice for you. You could be a novice or a high level athlete, or anyone in between, and Pilates will meet you where you’re at, challenging your strength and flexibility in equal measure, with the goal of creating the healthiest possible version of yourself. Pilates can be adapted to suit any fitness level, including those rehabilitating from injury or recuperating after an illness. Pilates can be started at any fitness level and at any age, with many seniors experiencing life enhancing results!
What can I expect from my Pilates class?
If you have never studied Pilates before, you will find yourself moving your body in new and interesting ways. The machines can seem quite bizarre the first few times you use them and often in the first couple sessions you may feel like your brain has had a heavier workout than your body! However, with the guidance of your teacher, you will learn the foundational work that Pilates is built on and very likely discover muscles you never knew you had! For an experienced Pilates student, a session in this studio will enhance your overall understanding of The Pilates Method. We will build on your foundation, taking a deep dive into ‘The Work’, looking at ways to build on your strength and flexibility and give you that oh-so-pleasureable ‘Pilates burn’!
How often should I do Pilates?
Pilates is most beneficial when studied 2 - 3 times a week. However, while three is better than two and two is better than one, one is most definitely better than none!
If there is room in your budget, including regular private sessions in your training is optimal. If these are not feasible on a regular basis, our small group classes will get you results and you can choose to add in a private session every 4 - 6 weeks or when money allows.
Do men do Pilates?
Pilates was originally created as a comprehensive total body workout primarily for men. Joseph Pilates was a German-born gymnast and boxer and an exceedingly fit fella! He believed in tailoring the work to the individual, based on personal needs and goals. The Classical Pilates work can fine tune your athletic performance, whether you are a runner, cyclist, power-lifter or hockey player! While Pilates alone may not build the muscle mass some men are after, it does complement other forms of exercise by focusing on creating a balanced, adaptable, and agile body. Many men who come to Pilates are already very strong, but lack flexibility and joint range-of-motion, or feel chronically ‘tight’. Often, while strong and athletic, they have become prone to chronic injury and are looking for solutions. Men are often surprised at how challenging seemingly ‘easy’ looking exercises are, and discover deep muscles of their torso, hips and shoulders that have been previously ignored by other forms of exercise.
Increasingly, male professional and Olympic athletes are adding Pilates to their fitness plan, saying The Work gives them the edge they are looking for to perform at their highest level.
My gym/rec center offers Pilates classes. How are you different?
Not all Pilates is the same. We specialize in teaching primarily Classical Pilates, using a wide range of apparatus as well as the expertise to use it. Lora has been comprehensively certified twice through two similar (but different) 950+ hour teacher training programs, adding up to 4 years of learning and training, as well as countless workshops focusing not just on the Pilates Method, but also how to work effectively with special populations. (see bio). Any teacher employed by Strathcona Pilates will be comprehensively certified and committed to the highest standards of The Pilates Method.
Can I still take Pilates if I am recovering from physical injury, surgery or illness?
Absolutely! Joseph Pilates began developing his system of work in a hospital, assisting patients who were recuperating from injury or illness, and very often only able to lie on their backs on the hospital bed! There are many hundreds, if not thousands of exercises and modifications for different conditions. Pilates is uniquely suited to people seeking a form of exercise that will not further traumatize their bodies. As you begin to recover, we can carefully and incrementally build on your fitness level, challenging you in a
Can I do PIlates if I am pregnant?
If you become pregnant when you already have a solid Pilates practice, there is a good chance you will be able to keep going with modifications and adjustments as you ‘grow’! It is often possible to work with women well into their third trimester. However, it is generally not recommended to start a new exercise program when you are already pregnant, and Strathcona Pilates will likely advise against it. It is always advisable to consult with your doctor with any concerns.
What should I bring to my first Pilates class?
Please wear comfortable and preferably stretchy athletic wear that you can easily move around in and where your teacher can see the form of your body.
Ideally Pilates is done in your bare feet, but you can wear your socks if you prefer. Although Pilates is not a cardio workout, you may want to bring some bottled water with you.
Is Pilates the same as yoga?
Pilates is not the same as yoga, although truth be told, on a rare lazy day, even I have said “yes, sort of”! Yoga has evolved out of the mists of time, and is a powerful and transformative practice in it’s own right. The man who developed the Pilates Method, Joseph Pilates, sought to address one’s “Body, Mind & Spirit” through his work, so in that respect, the two practices might be considered “alike”. However, Pilates is undoubtedly a newer practice, having been developed just over a hundred years ago by Joseph (Joe) Pilates. He called his work Contrology, and it has evolved as an entirely unique and independent exercise practice. In fact, a lot of newer, “fusion” fitness systems borrow heavily from The Pilates Method. (Because it works really well!) The core values of Pilates are Whole Body Health, Whole Body Commitment, (Concentration, Control, Centering, Balance, Precision, Flowing Movement) and Breath. These values, brought into every exercise in the whole body of work, create a unique union of intrinsic muscular strength and stability balanced with ease of movement and flexibility. Specific muscle groups are rarely, if ever, isolated. Pilates instead focuses on whole body integration with every exercise, using breath to facilitate and inform the movement. While there is a large body of work that is done on the mat, I feel the true magic of Pilates is in the uniquely supportive and often transformative apparatus that Joe spent many years inventing, developing, and perfecting.
Do I need to be in shape before I start Pilates?
No! Pilates is a highly adaptable system. We can easily tailor the exercises to suit your level and needs. Pilates really is for Every-Body!
I am already strong and athletic. Will Pilates benefit me?
You bet!
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