Myth #1: Pilates is just another form of yoga.
Fact: Pilates was created by Joseph Pilates, a German immigrant to the United States who taught his method at his studio in New York City and later at the YMCA. While he incorporated some yoga-inspired movements into his program, he also incorporated elements from dance, gymnastics, and other physical activities.
Myth #2: Pilates is only for women.
Fact: While Pilates was developed specifically for women in mind by Joseph Pilates, who believed it could help them regain their pre-pregnancy bodies faster than traditional exercise programs, it is now widely used by men as well. Many gyms offer both male and female instructors who can teach you how to do the exercises correctly so you get maximum results from your workouts!
Myth #3: You should feel pain when doing pilates moves like the Hundred or Barrel Rolls—it means that they’re working!
Fact: While some muscles may feel sore after doing these moves for the first time (and even more so on subsequent days), this doesn’t mean they are working harder.
Myth #4: You should wear loose clothing when you do Pilates.
Reality: No, you don’t! A tight t-shirt is fine, as long as it doesn’t restrict your movement in any way.
Myth #5: You have to be flexible to do Pilates.
Reality: While it’s true that Pilates can help improve flexibility, you don’t need to be super-flexible to start. In fact, many people start on the reformer with just a few exercises and build up from there.
Myth #6: Pilates is only for people who want a slim waistline and tight abs.
Reality: While Pilates is an excellent way to get lean and toned, it’s also a great way to improve strength and flexibility in your whole body—including your back, hips, shoulders and arms (even if you don’t want those areas to look smaller).
Myth #7: You can’t do Pilates if you have a bad back.
Reality: The truth is that most people who think they have bad backs actually just need to work on their core. The reason their backs hurt is because they’re weak, not because they’re injured. And the best exercise for your core is Pilates!
Myth #8: You can’t do Pilates if you’re pregnant.
Reality: While there are some exercises that may not be appropriate during pregnancy (and we’ll let you know which ones those are), most of our clients find that they feel better after taking classes during this time in their life than before they were pregnant! Pregnancy is a great time to work on improving strength and flexibility.
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