At New Healthy Body Pilates studio in Sheffield, we love hearing from people who are trying Pilates for the first time, and we’ve noticed some trends in the common myths which people believe about Pilates.
Many people are curious about Pilates but assume that it’s not for them.
Sometimes outdated ideas or social media stereotypes create a sense of intimidation, but we’re here to reassure you that whoever you are and whatever your background, Pilates is for you.
The truth is that Pilates is adaptable, beginner-friendly and beneficial for a huge range of people and fitness levels.
In this month’s blog we’ll debunk some of the main myths which have sadly stopped many people from trying Pilates for the first time, including Pilates being just for women, and requiring a certain fitness or flexibility level to begin.
Myth 1: Pilates is only for women
Perhaps you’re a man thinking about trying Pilates for the first time, but you’re wondering whether it’s really for you.
Many of the members at New Healthy Body are male, and we’re always glad to have men in our classes.
But this isn’t a recent development; Pilates was created by a man, Joseph Pilates, and was originally used by athletes, dancers, soldiers and those undergoing rehabilitation, so it has always been enjoyed by both men and women.
Many professional athletes incorporate Pilates into their workouts to build strength, mobility and injury prevention; men also benefit from improved core strength, posture, flexibility and balance if they play sports or are regular gym goers.
Visit the ‘Success Stories’ section of our website to read about how Pilates at New Healthy Body has benefitted men such as David and Josh.
Myth 2: You need to be strong and flexible to start Pilates
If you’re considering trying Pilates for the first time, it’s natural to wonder how much flexibility and fitness is required to take part.
The good news is that there’s no prerequisite level to get started.
In fact, Pilates helps you to become more flexible; beginners often start with tight muscles, but through a focus on controlled movement, Pilates will help participants to gain flexibility and strength over time.
At all of our classes, exercises can also be modified for all mobility and fitness levels, so if you are concerned about your ability then there will be options for you.
Myth 3: Pilates isn’t a real workout
Perhaps a myth more commonly wielded by friends or family of those trying Pilates for the first time, this is one which is easy to debunk.
Rather than trying to reach the level of some elusive ‘real’ workout, instead each person should be working to find the base level of exercise they need to stay healthy.
Pilates is a great option to help with this, as it builds strength, endurance, control and stability.
Many classes are physically challenging, but as a general rule, low-impact does not mean low-intensity.
Back in my Personal Trainer and Class Instructor days I always remember a colleague of mine who was a body builder.
When I was teaching Pilates one day, he walked past the studio and observed what we were doing. After the class had finished, he made a comment about it looking really easy and like we were just stretching!
I invited him to join in with my next class, and he was amazed how difficult it was. He was sweating buckets and really struggled with some of the exercises.
Pilates exercises may look subtle, but they can be quite strong and very effective at improving our strength and more.
If you’re trying Pilates for the first time, you’ll find many benefits with consistent practice, including:
- Core strength
- Improved posture
- Better balance
- Muscular endurance
- Improved co-ordination
- Better mobility and flexibility
Myth 4: Pilates is just stretching
Similar to Myth 3, as I mentioned above some people wrongly judge the principles of Pilates and attempt to downplay the positive effects of Pilates by saying it’s ‘just’ stretching– which can sadly put some people off trying Pilates for the first time.
Whilst Pilates does include stretching, this is very different from passive stretching and instead incorporates controlled resistance and precision.
Pilates trains how the body moves, not just how far it stretches, meaning that its impacts are also felt outside of the Pilates class and throughout life.
Myth 5: Pilates is only for injuries or rehabilitation
Whilst Pilates is excellent for rehab, this is not the limit of its benefit; it’s also used for performance, fitness and everyday health and wellbeing.
People from all walks of life enjoy Pilates, whether they are athletes using Pilates for cross-training or office workers benefitting from posture improvements.
Pilates supports longevity and functional movement, which can also contribute towards preventing injuries from happening in the first place.
Thinking of trying Pilates for the first time? Here’s what to expect
If you’re reading this blog, you may well be considering trying Pilates for the first time, so here are some key points on what to expect at your first Pilates class.
- Beginners are common – we love welcoming new people to our Sheffield studio and we’re a welcoming friendly community. All our classes cater for mixed abilities, so you are absolutely fine to attend as a beginner as different levels are given for all exercises.
- Modifications are normal – in each class, there will be participants taking part who may have injuries or medical conditions that we have to tailor exercises for, so you won’t be alone if that’s you.
- Questions are welcome – everybody was new to Pilates once, so if you have a question we’d love to hear it and put you at ease.
If you’d like more information about what to expect at a Pilates class with New Healthy Body, you’re in the right place as we’ve written a whole blog on the topic, which covers points such as where you can park and what equipment we may use.
All five myths debunked
We hope that as you’ve read through this month’s blog you feel reassured that these common myths about Pilates don’t hold any weight.
Pilates isn’t just for women, it’s for everyone.
There is no level of fitness or flexibility required to get started.
Pilates is a ‘real’ workout!
Pilates helps the body much more than passive stretching.
Pilates is beneficial for those who haven’t suffered recent injuries, as well as those who have.
What we really want to underline here is that Pilates is much more accessible than people commonly think, and many of these fears or myths come from misconceptions rather than reality.
The best way to understand Pilates is to try it yourself, and you’re in the right place for that!
Our website is the best place to find information about the Pilates classes we’re currently running.
We have a timetable of sessions both in-person at our Sheffield studio, or online if that suits you better.
If you have any questions, or perhaps you’ve heard another myth about Pilates that you’d like to hear answered, then we’d love to hear from you – please do get in contact and we can help to remove any hurdles standing in the way of you trying Pilates for the first time.