What is Pilates and is it Right for You? 

If you’ve heard of pilates but aren’t quite sure what it’s all about, you’re not alone. Pilates is often grouped together with yoga as a “stretching” form of exercise, but there’s so much more to it. Developed nearly 100 years ago by Joseph Pilates, this graceful yet effective full body workout builds core strength, balance, and flexibility for people of all ages and fitness levels. I’ve tried to compile a list of some of the most frequently asked questions about Pilates. I wrote this through the lens of my work and training for several decades as an Authentic Pilates Instructor and a Physical Therapist. I’m a big believer in Pilates as a way to create a solid path to wellness and to support any work you’ve done in Physical Therapy. In fact, the connection between Pilates and Physical Therapy (and post PT work) is one of the reasons I started this business. If you have any questions at all about Pilates, you can email me at: Wendy@Mindbodypt.com.  I’ll try my best to get back to you as soon as possible. 

Is Pilates Good For Beginners?

Absolutely! We love working with beginners at our studio, whether you’ve never tried pilates before or just getting back into fitness. Pilates focuses on building a strong core which helps prevent injury as you advance your workout. The fundamentals like breathwork, pelvic placement, shoulder girdle stabilization, and ribcage control establish proper form and body awareness. Our trained instructors guide you through every exercise, using modifications to progress at your own pace. Pilates is extremely well-suited for beginners. We work closely with you to establish the foundation of “the fundamentals” of Pilates. It’s these exercises that you build your entire practice on. We love one-on-one coaching and guidance to help you get the most from the work. 

Is Pilates Appropriate for Seniors?

Yes. In fact, one of our clients is 90+ years young!  Regular pilates helps improve balance and coordination, preventing falls. IJoseph Pilates originally developed his method over a century ago for rehabilitation, crafting gentle yet effective exercises. The focus on precise movements, often done laying down or seated, makes pilates ideal for seniors. Instructors pay close attention to form and use resistance equipment to increase strength and stamina safely, without straining joints or tendons. Regular pilates helps improve balance and coordination, preventing falls. It also aids with chronic conditions like arthritis or osteoporosis. Pilates provides a full-body workout for any age.  

Is Pilates Good For Back Pain?

Pilates has been a fundamental component of helping clients with back pain and sometimes, even avoiding surgery. By building core strength in the abdominals, lower back muscles, and glutes, pilates helps stabilize the spine taking pressure off the vertebrae and discs. The focus on proper alignment also helps reinforce good posture which reduces back pain. Specific exercises stretch and strengthen the full back body helping relieve chronic tight, sore muscles. Clients often report a drastic reduction in back pain after just a few pilates sessions. The gentle yet targeted movements make it very therapeutic for bad backs. When you do Pilates at our studio we work closely with you to establish goals and figure out how to best manage your back pain and make a plan to manage and mitigate the pain. 

How Does Pilates Work? And Will Pilates Transform Your Body?

The secret to pilates resides in the core. By strengthening the abdominals, lower back, hips and glutes, it teaches body awareness and control that carries over into daily life. Regular pilates practice helps posture, realigning the spine and activating muscles. It increases flexibility across joints through controlled articulated movements. Pilates simultaneously elongates and strengthens muscles creating a lean physique. With focused breath and concentration, it also calms the mind, reducing stress. Clients often feel their bodies have been totally transformed from the inside out through consistent practice. When Pilates first started, many dancers made the work at Joseph Pilates studio in New York part of their workouts. I trained at this studio with one of the original “elders” of Pilates who were trained by Joseph Pilates. And, I’m a big believer that a strong core and working with Pilates can elongate your muscle structure. 

Can I combine Physical Therapy and Pilates? 

Physical Therapy and Pilates can work hand-in-hand. As you complete your physical therapy program, it’s important not to lose momentum with the progress you’ve made. Transitioning to a regular Pilates practice can help you maintain and build upon the strength, flexibility, and movement patterns you achieved through PT. Pilates shares principles like core engagement, proper alignment, and controlled motion that reinforce physical therapy goals. Whether you take private lessons or group classes, Pilates offers a pathway to make rehabilitation gains permanent. By establishing exercise as a consistent habit, you support long-term wellness and get the most from your physical therapy journey.

Authentic Pilates Provides an Excellent Workout for All 

At our studio, highly-trained instructors with various backgrounds like physical therapy guide clients appropriately based on their needs and goals. We focus on tailoring the workout by using different props like magic circles, weighted balls, rotating discs, and resistance bands while paying careful attention to form. To start, beginners quickly build core awareness and control while advanced students take skills to the next level with added challenges and use of equipment like the Tower, Reformer and other equipment. The Pilates Fundamentals and form are critical to gaining the most from your practice and the equipment. Pilates provides an excellent strength and flexibility workout suitable for any body.

I started MindBody Physical Therapy and Wellness with a goal and mission of creating a seamless transition from Physical Therapy to Lifelong wellness with Pilates and other wellness classes. With Pilates, there’s a systematic approach of precise movements focused on breath and alignment to transform bodies. The full-body conditioning lasts a lifetime, which is why Joseph Pilates’ method thrives today.

Contact us to learn more about getting started in pilates or building on your practice. We offer personalized private training along with a variety of small group classes. It’s never too late to feel the incredible effects of pilates!