Are there any misconceptions or myths about Pilates?

The notion that Pilates is easy may be due to a few factors.

Pilates is very adaptable to a person’s ability. There are many exercises, many variations and many little props and toys to make an exercise either more doable or more challenging for a particular body. Depending on the intensity of the work out, a Pilates class can be very easy or very demanding. As a result, when in a large group setting, not everyone will be getting the workout that suits their needs, abilities and fitness level.

The increasing interest and curiosity about Pilates is bringing out more people to try Pilates resulting in many more introductory and beginner classes being offered. While it is wonderful that Pilates is increasing in popularity, exposure to more intermediate and advanced exercises and variations may be limited leaving some newcomers to Pilates with the impression that Pilates is easy. Most of the exercises in Pilates focus on form and quality of the repetitions rather than the quantity. As a result, many exercises are performed slower than exercises in more common fitness settings again leaving some passersby with the idea that Pilates is easy.

If you’ve tried Pilates and have found some benefit from it but are no longer being challenged, ask your instructor if there are modifications to the exercises that can be done to challenge you again and/or consider looking into trying a class or two at other facilities offering Pilates. One or two private sessions with a Pilates instructor at this point may also be beneficial at finding out other areas to focus on and reigniting the challenge with Pilates again. Usually a Pilates studio specializing in Pilates will be able to suggest ways to add more challenge to the exercises and classes again.