pilates...does it really work?

I've been hearing a lot about Pilates lately so I went out to the store today and bought a 50 min workout video. I was just wondering if anyone here does Pilates and if so does it really work?

For some values of work : Pilates Revealed is a more in-depth look at it, but basically, it's a bodyweight exercise protocol and like all bodyweight exercise protocols very limited in what it can do for you.

 Now, if you enjoy it and do it consistenly it'll be better than nothing, but there are better ways to reach just about every training goal you have - Pilates made up his exercise system from a combination of yoga and floorwork from gymnastics to rehab war wounded.

 I'm of the opinion that if you're not in need of rehab you shouldn't train as if you are if you expect results.

 Now, obviously there are people out there who disagree with me, and since diet is the critical factor in weight loss and exercise you can have results of a sort with diet+pilates. You'll just have better ones with diet+something more effective - though Pilates can form a part of a well-rounded workout program if you so desire.

I love pilates. I feel that I am more flexible and have better posture after keeping up with it. It only took me about a week to feel better but I stopped after a few months and felt crampy and tight. I started it again and same thing happened.

I hear it's not a substitute for strength training or cardio so I do it in addition to other exercise. It's more of a treat even though sometimes my abs feel as if they're on FIRE!.

I think it's also important to note that there are HUGE differences in what are and what should be considered Pilates. You will not get the results that Joseph Pilates intended by watching a tape or even taking class at a gym. It is a very intricate method and requires that you learn with a knowledgable teacher in an intimate setting. You'll still get results, it's just different...

I agree with previous posters, you aren't going to lose weight or get drastic muscle gains. But it will help with posture and flexibility.

I use it for stretching, relaxation, and to get some blood flowing to my muscles on my days off of intense exercise. It's useful for that, but like the other posters have said, it's not a substitute for cardio/strength training.

i did a mat pilates class one summer and i honestly can say i never had a stronger core...i was ripped!

My stomach has always been my problem area, so I like that Pilates concentrates on the core. It seems to work for me -- so for anyone struggling with a bulging belly, I'd recommend doing it after cardio. Maybe pick the exercises from the DVD that seem most effective and do 15-minute intervals?

 That would be spot reduction, and that's a total myth - in practice. Theoretically, core exercises could lead to a slightly greater localized fat burn, but it takes 5 hours of core/ab work to burn the equivalent calories of 30 minutes of jogging, 20 minutes of interval training, 10 minutes of HIIT or 10 minutes of strength training so I really don't see the point of it.

 Pilates or yoga is not a complete fitness solution for most people - unless you're SkinnYogi and live the practice every day they aren't enough of a workout to see results in a timeframe you can live with.

 You can certainly do some to stretch and loosen up overly tight muscles, but real core strength comes from squats and deadlifts, not crunches and sucking in your stomach, or interminable strength endurance work like 'the hundreds'.

 Now, keep in mind that not being a complete fitness solution isn't an indictment of any exercise system, there's nothing that covers everything. My beloved weight training doesn't much help with stretching and flexibility work, and it won't do much to make you a better distance runner so that's not a complete fitnes solution either.

 It's just that Pilates has been the focus of a lot of marketing based on poisonous, pernicious outright lying to the consumer, spreading non-physiological myths as fact and distorting the truth for commercial gain - while Pilates itself isn't a half-bad bodyweight exercise system and can be a nice, gentle intro to exerrcise for the previously sedentary, it's being sold through marketing that is so deceptive it's just one step shy of outright fraud.

Original Post by melkor:

 My beloved weight training doesn't much help with stretching and flexibility work, and it won't do much to make you a better distance runner so that's not a complete fitnes solution either.

 I'm going to disagree on both of your points, while weight lifting may not be great for flexibility, it's great for mobility which is much more important in a practical/everyday setting (and yes, I realize I didn't actually disagree with you there).

Weight lifting can also do wonders for making you a better distance runner, this article by Eric Cressey does a much better job than I could at explaining how.

The point of exercising is to improve some aspect of your physical abilities and therefor improve your quality of life.  For example, if you can't walk without getting out of breath, walking for exercise will increase you stamina and will make your life easier.  If you have trouble lifting things up, weight lifting will make it easier (installing my window unit air conditioner got a whole lot easier after I started weight lifting).

If you have trouble laying on your back, lifting your legs in the air and moving them around in circles, then Pilates will definitely help you out.  If you want to improve some practical aspect of your physical abilities, then pilates probably isn't going to do anything for you.

Original Post by floggingsully:

 

If you have trouble laying on your back, lifting your legs in the air and moving them around in circles, then Pilates will definitely help you out.

lol

pilates is only gonna help you in the flexibility and strength area...it might help tone your body but thats only if you're slim enough to get those results (meaning that you dont have to lose so much weight, or none at all). Pilates is not a weight loss method. You may lose inches, but thats in combination with other exercises, since it doesnt burn much calories. Even Yoga burns more calories than pilates. All those women who practices pilates and are fit do more than just pilates in their workout routines.

I tried doing pilates for 3 weeks, and now am convinced that it does help the core, because Im way more stronger now, but strength training with weights and elastic bands and such is better. Ofcourse adding in a good session of cardio if your intention is to lose weight.

Try combining pilates with a bit of strength training, and cardio...and ofcourse a blanaced diet, and you'll get the results you need, plus some added stuff like flexibility and better posture.

gl

-xo

Original Post by melkor:

  Pilates or yoga is not a complete fitness solution for most people - unless you're SkinnYogi and live the practice every day they aren't enough of a workout to see results in a timeframe you can live with.

 

However, SkinnYogi also gets her yoga lovin butt on the treadmill 5 times a week. There is somewhat of an affliction among yogis (even the serious ones) where they don't do any cardio and I like to run as a complement to my life in general. I never meditate better than when I've completed a few miles.