Myth #1: Pilates is for women
I’ve heard this on numerous occasions and find it rather curious since the creator of Pilates was a man, Joseph Pilates. This man was a gymnast, a boxer, and a military trainer in his early years, and pictures of Pilates even into his 80s reveal a very strong, fit physique. Truthfully, the exercises are in no way gender-biased and work well for both men and women. Although I do find that more women are interested in Pilates, I feel this is largely due to its ease and accessibility. It can be done anywhere at any time and women often need something that fits into their packed work and family schedules. However, I find that in recent years, many more men are coming to the studio to reap the benefits of Pilates. They range from executives to truck drivers and realize that anyone who sits for long hours can benefit equally from this exercise.

Myth #2: Pilates is the same as Yoga
Pilates and yoga are very complimentary practises, yet they are also very different. Pilates works the entire body and focuses on six principles – concentration, control, centring, breathing, flow, and precision. Yoga is more therapeutic in nature and incorporates things such as meditation, study, and reflection. It also focuses on coordinating breathing with movement. Pilates gives the body a long lean look, much like a dancer rather than a bodybuilder. It is for this reason that it is very popular among movie stars and celebrities who want to have an overall toned look rather than an overly muscular look. Yoga does not accomplish this to the same degree but can complement Pilates by enhancing the mind-body-spirit awareness of the individual.

Myth #3: Pilates will give you an instant flat tummy
Many women who are post-childbirth have heard that Pilates is a quick fix for their “baby tummy.” This is true to a degree because Pilates does focus on working the core muscles, especially the deeper abdominal muscles, as toning the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles provides stability and freedom of motion throughout the body. This is one of the reasons that Pilates has been so successful for people
who have back pain. The myth comes in thinking that Pilates stops there or is a quick fix. It is an overall exercise regime and works all parts of the body in a balanced way – it does not just focus on the abs. I will frequently be approached by clients who are frustrated that we are not just working their abdominal muscles. It’s important to understand that Pilates works as a harmonious whole and is much more than a spot reduction approach to fitness. The Pilates principles – control, centring, concentration, breath, flow, and precision – all support an integrative mind/body experience through Pilates exercise. Actually, many women who come to me to reduce their baby tummy soon realize that the overall workout of their entire body creates a wonderful form of stress relief and can be easily done at home while their new baby is napping.

Myth #4: Pilates isn’t “real” exercise
Due to the fact that anyone can participate in Pilates, it is common for some to think that it is too easy to really give the body a good workout. In fact, Pilates routines can be easy or very challenging, depending on the individual’s focus. However, since many Pilates classes are designed for beginners, people aren’t necessarily exposed to the intermediate and advanced levels. There is also the idea that in order to benefit, an exercise must be fast, hard, and repetitive exercises, in contrast, are often done very slowly. The muscles are still being worked just as hard, but to the outside observer it looks easy. The proof of the level of benefit from Pilates can be seen in some of the fittest professional athletes, among whom it is very popular.

Myth #5: You don’t need an instructor to learn Pilates
This myth is an unfortunate result of the idea presented in #4. Because many people assume that Pilates is easy, they see little need to have a qualified instructor. It is important to understand that Pilates is a sophisticated method of exercise and a qualified instructor will have had a great deal of education and experience. They will be able to teach you to do the moves correctly to attain the highest benefit possible. They will understand the body’s complex systems and how it reacts to the various Pilates exercise. They can also help design a specific programme tailored to meet your individual needs and desires. Over time our bodies change and it is important to have a form of exercise that can change as well. It must be able to offer benefits after an injury or options in the case of a degenerative form of disease. There are many kinds of exercise that individuals engage in, but few that can be continued no matter a person’s age or physical ability. Finding a well qualified instructor is a major part of getting the most from Pilates.

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