How Pilates Saved Her Life ... or Just Improved Her Running and Gave Her a Fab Body

Hello vie balance Readers,

My name is Alia Staples, friend of Erin and Pilates Apprentice at The Pilates Loft in Orlando, Florida. I am working towards my certification as a Pilates Instructor through the New York Pilates Studio® Teacher Certification Program.

I began Pilates in early 2010 to introduce a new form of exercise into my fitness routine and was quickly impressed by the results. I noticed increased flexibility throughout my body, substantial improvement in the strength of my core and what I would describe as a “lengthening” in all of my muscles.

As a runner, I believe Pilates offers great cross training. I shaved 12 minutes off my half marathon time after just four months of practicing Pilates!! That was proof enough for me!

Alia just having completed the Run with Donna Half Marathon in Jacksonville, FL where she set a new PR which she attributes to her Pilates cross training.

My experience with the Authentic Pilates Method prompted me to enter the NY Pilates Studio Certification Program in January of 2011 so I could teach the method to others. The certification program requires 600 hours of training, practice teaching, and observation.

In this blog post, I will elaborate a little bit on the benefits of Pilates Erin mentioned in her previous entry, and I’ll also outline the most important things to look for when selecting a Pilates studio.

Let’s start with the benefits. There’s a ton, so I’ll just mention the most important ones:

• Pilates improves overall body awareness. Each movement requires complete connection between the mind and the body to perform the precise, controlled exercises.
• Pilates improves core strength, and everyone from cubicle dwellers to athletes can benefit from that!
• Pilates teaches you good posture and stance.
• Pilates works the entire body, from head to toe with each exercise. This lengthens and strengthens your muscles.

The Shoulder Bridge on the Cadillac

"I often tell people that ask about the benefits of Pilates that I look back on my life before Pilates, and I feel like I was wearing an extra suit of skin over my entire body."

How to find a great studio where you will get your money’s worth

Once you’ve decided to try Pilates, it’s time to look around for studios or classes in your area. Seek out a studio dedicated to Pilates. What do I mean by that? I mean: look further than your local gym’s group Pilates class. You know what I’m talking about – it’s when the neighborhood YMCA offers Zumba, Spinning, Yoga and Pilates one after the other in some large group exercise room. There’s nothing wrong with these classes, but if you want to pursue true Pilates training and really experience the benefits, you’ll need to find a stand-alone facility complete with the Pilates equipment Erin mentioned in her last post (mats, towers, reformers, barrels, chairs and a cadillac). These are all necessary for well rounded Pilates training.

The Hug on the Reformer

Here is what to look for in a Pilates studio (in order of priority):

Credentials of the Instructors:

I believe this is the single most important component in selecting a studio. Up until the year 2000, the term “Pilates” was trademarked and instructors had to get certified through the original Pilates Studio of New York® to teach the principles designed by Joseph Pilates. However, in the past decade, a wide array of “Pilates” certification programs have emerged, ranging from a weekend crash course in Pilates, to an extensive 600 hour training program requiring instructors to pass rigorous practical teaching tests and written anatomy tests.

I am admittedly a purist when it comes to certification programs. The truer the certification program is to Joseph Pilates’ original vision, the better. There is a direct correlation between how educated your instructor is and the results you will see as a client. So, do your research. Read about the instructors on the studio’s website, then Google the programs they were certified through. What did these people do to get certified? How true is the program to the principles of Authentic Pilates.

Personalized Instruction, Even in Group Class:

Look for a studio that offers small group (8-10 people) classes. I know that sounds small, but you want to have the instructor’s attention. If your form is not carefully monitored by him/her, you’ll end up losing the effectiveness of the exercises. Small class size enables instructors to watch every person work out and make adjustments to their body as necessary. Pilates is hands on, and a good instructor will walk around a class and touch, push, and correct each person throughout the session.

Most studios offer Private or Semi-Private sessions for personalized attention. Private sessions are one-on-one time with an instructor and Semi-Privates are sessions like “duets”, where you and one other person work with an instructor. While these types of sessions are great because of the student to teacher ratio, they can be rather pricey (about $65-$85/hour for privates depending on where you live). So, group classes are a great alternative if you want to do Pilates but don’t have a huge budget for it. Just make sure they stay small.

Quality of Pilates Equipment:

A good studio will invest in high-quality Pilates equipment. My favorite brand is Gratz. Peak Pilates is another brand that’s made well. Those are two brands you can keep an eye out for when exploring studios in your area. They are built with either aluminum or maple wood frames. Take a quick walk around the studio you are researching (or check out their online photos) to see how sturdy and well maintained their equipment looks. It’s pretty easy to spot the flimsy stuff.

I wish you luck in your search for a Pilates studio. Feel free to email me if you have any further questions at alia.staples@gmail.com.

Special thanks to Erin for inviting me to be her first ever guest blogger!