| I received a question from the Ask Experts site | | | | blend Pilates and cardio into one workout regimen is |
| yesterday that I feel the need to share, since this is | | | | just plain wrong, is contrary to the whole basis of |
| coming up more and more with the advent of mass | | | | Pilates exercise, and will most likely result in lots of |
| Pilates DVDs and underqualified instructors. | | | | injured people who feel that they cannot do Pilates |
| Question: "Hi, I am a beginner in Pilates, when I try to do | | | | because it hurt them |
| the V shape or half way crunch, I get a HORRIBLY | | | | I hate this mass production of Pilates because it |
| painful cramp right below my rib cage on the right side, | | | | makes Pilates seem simply like a group of exercises |
| it stops me cold. I feel like I'll never get rid of this flabby | | | | (that look like other exercises) that you can do fast, |
| belly that ruins all of my cute outfits. Have you heard | | | | slow, or otherwise. That's just not it! Pilates is about |
| of this?" | | | | how you exercise; it's about how you move and |
| First, no Pilates beginner should be doing the teaser | | | | breathe and get into positions. Pilates is about balance |
| (the V shape), which is an intermediate/advanced | | | | and proper movement, not simply about hauling oneself |
| exercise that requires deeper abdominal recruitment to | | | | into a certain position. |
| avoid overusing the hip flexors and external obliques. | | | | Improperly done Pilates can cause-- hernias (from |
| Second, there is nothing "Crunch" like in Pilates. We do | | | | bearing down too much) muscle cramps (from |
| not tighten & compress the midsection like | | | | improper recruitment) neck & back injuries (from |
| someone who has buttoned his vest to his pants, but | | | | improperly flattening the back and neck causing |
| seek to strengthen the muscles functionally without | | | | muscle strain and vertebral compression and from |
| compression by using the pelvic floor and transverse | | | | overstretching or over-extending the back and |
| abdominus. | | | | neck--all from improper instruction on how to stabilize |
| While Pilates mat is the most accessible form of | | | | the pelvis) rotator cuff injuries (from pushing large |
| Pilates, the equipment is actually more appropriate for | | | | range of motion in the shoulder joint without proper |
| beginners. Joseph Pilates invented the apparatus to | | | | ribcage stabilization) osteoporotic spinal fractures (from |
| assist as well as resist movement, enabling people to | | | | too much forward flexion and other movements |
| exercise who otherwise may not have been able to | | | | contra-indicated for osteoporosis) and other injuries |
| move properly. It is not true that one must do Pilates | | | | Listen up --badly taught and poorly executed Pilates |
| mat before taking on the machines. | | | | can cause you injuries that will be with you forever, so |
| Then I saw an ad for "Cardiolates," a concept that is | | | | please please find a certified Pilates teacher to work |
| at once fascinating and horrifying. Note that Pilates is | | | | with and be vocal when things hurt or you are not |
| anaerobic exercise, like weight training. To attempt to | | | | sure how to do something. |