Frequently Asked Questions
This information is the culmination of a lifetime of practice and years of research.
Practice whatever you feel is right for you, in whatever method or workout best suits you. Above all remember to enjoy, protect, and be true to yourself. Always listen to your body and do right by you.
Pilates is a system of body conditioning exercises which combine stretching, strengthening, and control. It was developed by Joseph H. Pilates as form of rehabilitation during WW1 and was originally called “Contrology” (the art of controlling your body).
There are 6 principles: Concentration, Control, Centering, Flow, Precision, Breath.
Mr. Pilates did not come up with any specific set principles, it is said they came about in the 1980’s or so during the boom of the fitness craze.
That said, for those who can’t come in that often 2x/week is fantastic. 1x/week is much better than nothing but less recommended if you’re really looking to change and improve your body and habits.
Pilates works very deeply. It is, therefore, not recommended to start taking lessons during pregnancy if you have not been practicing before (though it may depend on your usual level of activity). Speak with your doctor before commencing any new form of exercise.
It is recommended to wait at least 6 weeks postpartum before starting up any strenuous physical activity. Afterwards Pilates can help you reconnect and provide the extremely important pelvic floor support you’ll need.
Depending on the injury a Doctor’s notice may be required. If an injury prohibits you from movement, especially where proper alignment is concerned, then medical attention with a properly licensed doctor or physical therapist may be suggested.
The main pieces of the system include:
Universal Reformer (most commonly referred to as “the machine”)
Cadillac (based on a hospital bed)
Electric/High Chair (“because it requires electricity” – Romana)
Wunda Chair (the first in-home piece of equipment designed for NYC apartments)
Baby/Small Chair (nothing “baby” about it)
Pedi Pole (created for an opera singer)
Ladder Barrel Spine Corrector (does what it sounds like) Guillotine (designed to fit in any NYC apartment) Mat
Some of the lesser known, but just as important pieces include:
Foot Corrector (Mr. Pilates’ first patented piece)
Toe Stretcher/Exerciser
Neck Stretcher
Bean Bag
Push Up Device
Airplane Board
60″ Twist Pole
Breath-A-Cizer
Absolutely! Nowadays there are many types of equipment manufacturers offering many variations and alterations to the original design. Most commonly the amount of springs have increased and varied the weight/tension of the springs (they are usually nice and colorful). The dimensions of the beds have expanded and changed the width of the spring hook locations, which directly impacts the joints.
Mr. Pilates was an inventor. He dedicated his life to his work. His final original designs were the results of years of trial and error. There is a reason for every angle, dimension, tension, etc. It is for this reason that practitioners of the original (and classical) work insist on using the original equipment manufacturer, Gratz.
As a side note: if Gratz is not available to you Basil (now called Pilates Designs) is a great alternative. Although there are some subtle differences they are the closest to Gratz than any other brands.
Yes however you will be compromising the work’s effectiveness in your body. There have been countless blogs, articles and discussions dedicated to translating the work into various branded equipment, at the end they all seem to say that, if at all possible, you’re better off with Gratz.
Many studios can be enticed by the cheaper costs and the alleged “customization” of other brands. It’s important to understand that other brands exist possibly for the following reasons:
1) A genuine misunderstanding of the intention of the work and the coinciding equipment design. For example: the Pedi Pole was designed to be unstable so that the body can stabilize the equipment while stabilizing itself. There is a brand designed by engineers who thought they would “fix” the instability “problem” so they made a version of the equipment that is perfectly balanced and still, thereby rendering the equipment and its exercises useless/redundant.
2) Variations of certifications and schools of thought on “pilates.” When you change the work you need to have equipment that works for your focus.
3) Business Focus: Pilates can be a lucrative business with hundreds of thousands of practitioners all over the world with varying education. If there’s a market, there’s a profit to be made.
These apparatuses were designed for you to do the work, not for the equipment to do it for you (“apparatus v machine”). It comes down to the feel. You can tell the difference.
It’s always good to ask for information (this goes beyond just Pilates but we’ll stick to that current topic). Look into the background of their certification and, in Pilates terms, how removed are they from the source? In our experience we’ve found that most Pilates certifications have no quality control and are not selective in the people they certify (some can be done in less than a weekend).
How often do they take lessons and keep up with the practice in their own body?
How often do they attend workshops or re-certify? Romana’s Pilates International certifications last a year with Continuing Pilates Education (CPE) workshops available internationally throughout the year.
In Romana’s Pilates® just because you are certified as a RPI instructor does not mean that you are qualified to become an instructor trainer. We are the guardians of the integrity of the method; it’s to maintain the quality of the work and the standards that keep it effective. Each level possesses an increased responsibility in our program and community continuing education.
In Romana’s Pilates® we rank our instructors from Level V (certified RP client instructor) through Level I, the rarest (only 3 currently in the world) “Grand Master” Instructor Trainer.
Only Level IV through Level I are qualified to train apprentices (in varying degrees).
The largest tell: if you feel that you’re using the usual large-muscle groups (ex quads, hamstrings, etc) that you’d be working out in the gym, etc., or you’re experiencing muscle fatigue, then you’re not likely practicing real Pilates.
“We don’t perform the exercises, we benefit from them.” – Maytal
The Similarities:
- Both forms of fitness emphasize the mind-body connection to increase your self-awareness and better your health.
- Both Pilates and Yoga can provide a form of meditation though more traditional forms of Yoga tends to focus on the spiritual element.
- Both practices have exercises performed on a mat.
- Mr. Pilates incorporated yoga influences into his development of Contrology.
- Both are generic terms and are not regulated by a single governing/accrediting body for quality control. Thus, it is up to you to listen to your body when deciding if these are right for you.
- Pilates and Yoga can be holistic approaches to various body conditions but are not cures nor a replacement for qualified medical attention.
The Differences
- The simplest answer lies within the basic Pilates principle of “the Box,” the general shoulder-to-shoulder/hip-to-hip alignment and the coinciding relationship between those 4 points. Working within the Box means working within the joints and gradually learning to expand your range of motion while considering the points. Where Pilates works within the box, Yoga, in its various forms, has positions that work outside of it.
- While Pilates has some breath-centric exercises most are just about breathing “to live.” Most forms of yoga tend to require more attention given to the breath. Pilates breathing emphasizes a nasal inhale/exhale (when possible), while Yoga focuses on mouth-breathing.
- Yoga is performed on a mat. Pilates utilizes a system of equipment which includes matwork but is designed to challenge beyond the horizontal/vertical planes.
- Pilates is performed with constant movement, ideally flowing from exercise to exercise in a seemless fashion where many forms of traditional Yoga maintain a shape and position.
- Many types of Yoga include ambient music. Pilates is performed without distraction to allow you to listen to your breath, focus on your body and to the cues being given by your instructor.
Many practioners of Pilates also practice Yoga and vice versa. It does not have to be a choice of either/or it can be both and Pilates can be incorporated into your yoga practice to increase a conscious awareness of alignment.
Physical therapists are considered medical professionals. Pilates instructors are not.
Physical therapy is a form of rehabilitation, especially after surgery. While Pilates can support the rehab work done by PT’s it is still a form of fitness first.
When you’re injured or in pain physical therapy addresses and works the injury/area directly. Pilates avoids the aggravated area and seeks to keep your body moving without further impacting the painful region.
Pilates can ease pain caused by stress or imbalances of the body but it is not a replacement for necessary PT.
As Mr. Pilates has said, “(Pilates) is for everyone…”
Pilates was designed to be a universal form of fitness. That means men, women; young, old; new clients, seasoned practitioners; healthy bodies, those with body ailments*; all are welcome.
As a note: True Pilates is not cardio. If you are expecting a high intensity, calorie and muscle-fatiguing workout with loud music, as is becoming prevalent in franchised forms of “pilates,” then you will be disappointed. Depending on the teacher and your body’s condition this workout will raise your heart rate and can help you on your goals to achieving a healthy body, but form and proper execution takes precedent over reps. We value the quality of the work, not the quantity.
*It must be noted that if you have recently experienced injury or are seeing a doctor for any pain conditions you are required to provide a written form of consent from your medical professional indicating that you are allowed to work out.
Absolutely! Pilates was designed to be used in your daily life. Learning how to properly lift objects, how to breathe in a manner conducive with your every day activities, how to walk upright. It’s universally known that Mr. Pilates would suggest women go window-shopping along the streets of NYC so that could correct their posture with each window. Romana’s instructors are known to give basic homework to clients to maintain the work and get more out of it.
If you’re an athlete or a dancer, etc. then the Pilates method will not only help your form but will prevent future injuries from repeated overuse of certain muscles providing longevity in your field.
It should also be noted that the method was originally designed as matwork. Pilates developed the system of equipment to enhance a person’s ability to connect and, therefore, increase their matwork’s effectiveness.
Over the years a growing trend of franchise/gym-like “machine” pilates studios have become popular. As a means of distinguishing those trends from those who perform the work on more traditional-looking pieces of equipment the term “classical” was formed. That term, however, has been increasingly abused by those who claim it.
With the loss of the legal battle for the term “Pilates” by Romana, “Classical” has become more about memorization of a routine than an understanding of the movements. The lack of a trademark to maintain quality control has resulted in virtually every studio owner creating their own certification program, mainly for the funds it provides. It’s a line’em up, sign’em up factory-spitting kind of industry and a person can be certified by taking less than a weekend workshop. This is all unfortunate and too real.
In our years of research we came across this title of “Pilates Elders” back in 2006, here’s what we found: There were many people who learned from Joe and Clara Pilates. Some of them became teachers of the method, and a few went on to open schools of the Pilates method. These are considered to be the “Pilates Elders,” each with their own strength and unique understanding of the method as was given to them by Joe and Clara. These include Romana Kryzanowska, Cathy Grant, Mary Bowen, Ron Fletcher, Eve Gentry, Lolita San Miguel, Carola Trier.
It is, however, universally recognized that Romana Kryzanowska was the true protégé of Mr. Pilates (entrusting her with his original teachings/writings, etc) and she upheld the original methodology and spirit till her passing in 2013.
Whether you are a first-time certification seeker or are an experienced teacher looking for a community or wanting to answer the questions left from missing information provided by your previous certification we would love to help.
Please visit the Pilates Teacher Training Page for more detailed information.
For a list of international teacher training locations please click HERE to be redirected to the Romana’s Pilates directory.
The short answer: it has been – but apprentice training hours must be done under the supervision of a designated Romana’s Pilates Instructor trainer, the closest, till now, being in Sherman Oaks at our main training center on the West Coast.
The long answer: quality control limits the amount of Instructor Trainers around the world. There are only about 120 world-wide. Just because you are certified as a Romana’s Pilates Instructor (Level V) does not then mean that you can train other people to become instructors. In Romana’s Pilates International Instructor Trainers are considered “leveled up” from Instructor Trainer Level IV all the way to Grand Master Level I.
Romana’s Pilates offers you an opportunity to become proficient in using ALL the pieces of equipment in the system. If you have become certified in only one or a few apparatuses, and as separate certifications or parts, you did not receive the education meant to link them all together.
You did not learn Pilates.
Most often teachers coming from other certifications, inlcuding those who have branched off of Romana’s Pilates, feel like there are gaps in the work. Most of them just figure the method is flawed rather than the education provided with their certification. They turn to social media to help them out when they’re stumped (mostly seeking out Romana’s instructors anyways) or fill in the gaps with conflicting methodologies which further confuse the teacher. Romana’s Pilates stays consistent with the original work in every aspect that matters: in philosophy and execution. There are no flaws to the method when it’s done appropriately.
Re other “bridge” programs: it’s described that completing other certification programs felt like they had “graduated from elementary school.” How then do you expect to go to “graduate school”?
It should also be noted that under certain circumstances Romana’s Pilates does offer a “bridge” option or a shortened certification. For more information please contact us so we can direct you to the proper channels who can help.
FACTUAL FACTS
Debunking the Myths
FACT: Just as there are various methods of Yoga there are various methods of Pilates. There is no trademark on the term “Pilates.”
The Reason: Joseph Pilates designed and taught Contrology as an individualized conditioning. The series of exercises were moderately modified to fit the client’s needs. Some of those clients went on to teach and form their own schools of Pilates taking their individual cues and teaching them to others.
In the year 2000 Romana Kryzanowska lost the legal battle for the trademark of Pilates. Since then people have been further cutting corners and discarding the details that make the work effective and universal leaving holes in the methods they teach. This is why staying true to the original work is so vital to protect it.
FACT: Certification courses can teach you most of the exercises, however most approach the work as a routine. With well over 500 different exercises and variations in the method the Romana’s Pilates Program teaches you the integral foundation needed to develop your skills as a teacher. The building blocks of how to think, feel, cue, spot and start training your eye but continuing your education is the only way to grow and perfect your craft.
It is for this reason that Romana’s Pilates hosts continuing education workshops all over the world multiple times a year.
FACT: Despite the common pricing practices of various studios anyone with proper funding can own a studio. Unfortunately you don’t even need to be certified in any method but just create a certification of your own making.
FACT: Joseph Pilates spent a lifetime developing the method now known as Pilates. It really came to fruition during WW1 when he was imprisoned at an internment camp in England with other refugees.
When Mr. Pilates opened up his gym in NYC and was popular with male athletes but it happened to be located near some of the most prestigious Ballet schools in the world. Dancers were often referred to him (including Romana) and loved him, still true to this day, and so the method picked up the myth of the dancer-inspired origins.
FACT: True Pilates is a system of equipment which includes the matwork as well as the reformer (commonly referred to as the machine) among other pieces of equipment desgined, as such, to maximize your ability to connect to your body (see the Q&A section above for the list of equipment). Practicing on the system of equipment will exponentially increase the speed at which you will connect with you powerhouse.
FACT: To put it bluntly, Joseph Pilates was a man who developed the method with men in mind.
Currently over 50% of Maytal’s clients are men.
FACT: Muscles can only contract and decontract, they don’t actually stretch. The common feeling of stretch is most likely a result of over-contracted muscles decontracting. If thats the case then Pilates gives you the sensation of stretching.
There is also a manner of the definition of “stretching” and “flexibiity.” Pilates focuses on flexibility of the spine for practical use and to slow down the aging process which gravity places on our bones and bodies. Everyone stretching and flexbility with the limbs with the ultimate test is seeing if you can do a split. Unless your life’s work involves achieving the split, or you plan to hop down the street while holding one leg up by your ears this is not a great test of flexbility. That said, however, by making your spine flexbile you will ease uneven distrubution of tension overplaced on certain muscles, redistribute the responsibility of actions across the body and allow for increased flexibility in the limbs…thus getting you to do a split if that’s your goal.
FACT: The original/Romana’s method promotes a lengthened spine. Pilates places in you in many varying positions and angles where the lines can be blurred. The spine changes with every new position but the alignment remains. In order to maintain the alignment different things need to be said. It comes down to a misunderstanding of the positioning, a relative perception of what a person feels. The theory is that someone was cued or felt as if they were “tucked” (in a specific shape/position). Perhaps they needed to hear that particular work or feel that particular feeling and perceived to be a “tuck” but in actuality they were probably just in the position required for their body. We all respond to verbal cues differently and what one person may feel as if they’re “tucked” will not be the case for another. For example, someone with hyper/lordosis may need to be told to “tuck” in certain positions just to get their spine long. It’s all relative.
FACT: By definition the term “neutral” indicates “no purposeful action,” thus everyone has their own “neutral spine” position unique to their structure. If that’s the case then how can you force someone to be neutral?
If the concept behind “neutral spine,” however, is that the spine is not “tucked” nor “arched” then the term can be deemed correct, but we prefer to use the term “long” or “lengthened spine.” When standing the spine, in it’s most perfect sense, would have more of a sloping “J” shape (from the side view) but most of us in Western society have an “S” shape. This misalignment of bad posture may be the biggest contributor to most of our problems (unjuries and general muscle pain). However, when seated or lying down with bent knees the spine’s natural shape changes into an “l” shape with the change of position. To deny this natural adjustment is to force an increase of pressure on certain areas of the back.
There are methods and coinciding videos which suggest that in this lying down/knees bent position an arch should be placed, aka claiming to force that “J” shape instead of allowing the back to lay flat (which actually places the spine into an “S” shape because it will compensate). They apply the same notion to lying on the side, etc. where they force the back into a specific shape while compromising the alignment of the rest of the body, all to accommodate the notion of “neutral spine.”