Thank you. This feels like a much more reasonable take. I was shocked by some of the comments in Mikala’s post - saying that Pilates is soooo easy, like doing nothing, mostly for 70+ women.
That has definitely NOT been my experience.
I have taken two private reformer classes for exactly a year. Here’s my experience:
They are hard AF. I am sweating and shaking throughout. It is a hard workout for me (I’m a middle aged woman who has done X-fit in the past).
I have not gained an ounce of muscle (measured via dexa scan).
My body seems way more toned. Eg, less wobbly. I don’t know about the “leaner” meme but I do know that I’m a lot less jiggly.
I can measure progress because exercises that were really hard in the beginning are doable now.
My balance has improved dramatically, as has my bodily control. Eg, I’m no longer flopping about.
I feel strong!
I do need to add muscle and have realized it’s not gonna happen with Pilates, yoga and walking. Gonna add twice weekly weights sessions.
Just wanted to share my experience in the event that any of the benefits are appealing. I wouldn’t want anyone to opt out of Pilates bc of the perception that it doesn’t do anything for you. 🧘♀️
Totally agree — I would hate for people to decide it’s not even worth it to try Pilates. Just because it doesn’t do everything doesn’t mean it does nothing!
I interviewed a Pilates instructor a few years ago when I (unrelatedly) was dealing with lower back/SI issues from a lifting injury. She told me Pilates could work as a sort of physical therapy to help build core and hip stability and speed up my return to the barbell. I never took her up on her offer, but it made sense to me. Especially as someone who routinely skips core training because I find it so boring. I'm sure a Pilates session would kick my butt.
I have a question - maybe not so much about Pilates, but more about the pelvic floor. How is one supposed to gauge the “health” or maybe “functioning” of their pelvic floor? I see so many posts about how to strengthen the pelvic floor, and almost as many about what to do if your pelvic floor is too tight. A lot of it reads/feels like scaremongering…can we get a post about that?
Do you remember that old SNL sketch where Kristin Wiig is part of a group planning a surprise party and is so excited she cannot handle it and, like, runs through a wall? That’s me, seeing this question. While I am not a pelvic PT, the pelvic floor is one of my passions and specialties! I will definitely do a post about it in the near future, and will eventually run an interview with a pelvic PT where we go even more in-depth. Thank you so much for asking!
Pilates for Abortion Funds sounds amazing! Are there any more workshops scheduled for 2024? The FAQ doesn't mention any after September, but I am interested in joining in the future.
Yes! I need to update the website but indeed, I’ll be doing one a month through at least the end of the year. I’ll update you when these are scheduled, but if you’re comfortable DMing me your email address, I can get you on my list so you get the monthly notices i send!
Yessss thank you for this nuanced take - I felt myself getting very defensive about my Pilates Reformer practice while reading the comments on Mikala’s post (and I also really appreciated her take on it - it was the comments that I found frustrating, not her work, because I think she did a great job delineating between the modality and the Culture.) I have gotten to a point, finally, where I am ready to start adding more things into my movement practice, (and yay! Bc of my Pilates and physical therapy I can run and jump again and I can add your weekly workouts!) but I’ve been doing Pilates Reformer twice a week for two years in order to get here. It’s what’s worked for my body. It was hard to read the sort of mean “take down” attitude when really… it’s just another way to move. In the body we have. No matter what that looks like.
Also I am SO EXCITED to learn about Ivy and Requisite Pilates - I can’t wait to read the interview! Eee!! Diving deep on her account now to see if she has any insight for me on having boobs and a belly and trying to do short spine… that move is my nemesis.
Thank you so much for sharing — and I'm so glad Pilates has been so transformative for you (omg, running and jumping and other things!). I'm definitely curious about this urge to tear down types of exercise that aren't your favorite. My theory is, this stems from the stress and pressure many of us feel to do this the optimal or best way — if we've found the thing we believe is optimal or best for us, it can be weirdly easy to get a kind of religious fervor about it. Like, we want to tear down other modalities because we're almost a bit scared that the thing we've decided is best for us isn't actually the best??
Oh yeah, absolutely - the thing I do has to be The Thing. Because if it’s not, then I’m doing it all wrong and I won’t change my body enough to be safe in the world bc I’ll still be in the Wrong Body?! Agh. It’s certainly why I felt myself getting defensive and had to talk myself out of that position. We all just wanna be right and ok. Just like everybody else.
I started reformer Pilates 3 years ago at a studio that really caters to all body types and ages. I loved the studio so much and learned a great deal there. I had had a hysterectomy the year prior to starting and had noticed my core needed some help. I've done yoga for years but needed something else, and while I have tried so many workouts and gyms over the years, I've never really stuck with any, other than yoga and walking, long-term.
I've since moved to a different city and am attending a Pilates studio that's more of a chain, but I'm still really enjoying it. They have a variety of classes at different levels that mix mat, chair, and Reformer and I can tell that I've gotten stronger and my muscles have toned up over the years. It's slow progress, but I absolutely love it and it's an exercise I actually enjoy going to! Huzzah!
Whenever I think of Pilates, though, I think of Madonna in the 90s (and her red kabbalah bracelet). The ladies' magazines and tabloids were always getting photos of her leaving workouts and showcasing her muscular arms and touting the benefits of Pilates, but I think she was likely doing A LOT of working out, not just Pilates.
Oh man, those women's magazines and their hyperfixation on a certain type of arms. Yeesh! I'm so glad you're feeling good and strong — that is awesome <3
I’ve been considering trying to find a Pilates studio because Pilates is often recommended for people with HSD and HEDS, all the positive things you said about it make me think I should finally look into that further.
Thank you. This feels like a much more reasonable take. I was shocked by some of the comments in Mikala’s post - saying that Pilates is soooo easy, like doing nothing, mostly for 70+ women.
That has definitely NOT been my experience.
I have taken two private reformer classes for exactly a year. Here’s my experience:
They are hard AF. I am sweating and shaking throughout. It is a hard workout for me (I’m a middle aged woman who has done X-fit in the past).
I have not gained an ounce of muscle (measured via dexa scan).
My body seems way more toned. Eg, less wobbly. I don’t know about the “leaner” meme but I do know that I’m a lot less jiggly.
I can measure progress because exercises that were really hard in the beginning are doable now.
My balance has improved dramatically, as has my bodily control. Eg, I’m no longer flopping about.
I feel strong!
I do need to add muscle and have realized it’s not gonna happen with Pilates, yoga and walking. Gonna add twice weekly weights sessions.
Just wanted to share my experience in the event that any of the benefits are appealing. I wouldn’t want anyone to opt out of Pilates bc of the perception that it doesn’t do anything for you. 🧘♀️
Totally agree — I would hate for people to decide it’s not even worth it to try Pilates. Just because it doesn’t do everything doesn’t mean it does nothing!
I interviewed a Pilates instructor a few years ago when I (unrelatedly) was dealing with lower back/SI issues from a lifting injury. She told me Pilates could work as a sort of physical therapy to help build core and hip stability and speed up my return to the barbell. I never took her up on her offer, but it made sense to me. Especially as someone who routinely skips core training because I find it so boring. I'm sure a Pilates session would kick my butt.
Yes! I think that’s a great way to put it.
I have a question - maybe not so much about Pilates, but more about the pelvic floor. How is one supposed to gauge the “health” or maybe “functioning” of their pelvic floor? I see so many posts about how to strengthen the pelvic floor, and almost as many about what to do if your pelvic floor is too tight. A lot of it reads/feels like scaremongering…can we get a post about that?
Do you remember that old SNL sketch where Kristin Wiig is part of a group planning a surprise party and is so excited she cannot handle it and, like, runs through a wall? That’s me, seeing this question. While I am not a pelvic PT, the pelvic floor is one of my passions and specialties! I will definitely do a post about it in the near future, and will eventually run an interview with a pelvic PT where we go even more in-depth. Thank you so much for asking!
Yes 👍 I am interested in this too.
Here you go!! https://howtomove.substack.com/p/is-all-this-pelvic-floor-content
Pilates for Abortion Funds sounds amazing! Are there any more workshops scheduled for 2024? The FAQ doesn't mention any after September, but I am interested in joining in the future.
Yes! I need to update the website but indeed, I’ll be doing one a month through at least the end of the year. I’ll update you when these are scheduled, but if you’re comfortable DMing me your email address, I can get you on my list so you get the monthly notices i send!
Oh awesome, I will do that!
Yessss thank you for this nuanced take - I felt myself getting very defensive about my Pilates Reformer practice while reading the comments on Mikala’s post (and I also really appreciated her take on it - it was the comments that I found frustrating, not her work, because I think she did a great job delineating between the modality and the Culture.) I have gotten to a point, finally, where I am ready to start adding more things into my movement practice, (and yay! Bc of my Pilates and physical therapy I can run and jump again and I can add your weekly workouts!) but I’ve been doing Pilates Reformer twice a week for two years in order to get here. It’s what’s worked for my body. It was hard to read the sort of mean “take down” attitude when really… it’s just another way to move. In the body we have. No matter what that looks like.
Also I am SO EXCITED to learn about Ivy and Requisite Pilates - I can’t wait to read the interview! Eee!! Diving deep on her account now to see if she has any insight for me on having boobs and a belly and trying to do short spine… that move is my nemesis.
Thank you so much for sharing — and I'm so glad Pilates has been so transformative for you (omg, running and jumping and other things!). I'm definitely curious about this urge to tear down types of exercise that aren't your favorite. My theory is, this stems from the stress and pressure many of us feel to do this the optimal or best way — if we've found the thing we believe is optimal or best for us, it can be weirdly easy to get a kind of religious fervor about it. Like, we want to tear down other modalities because we're almost a bit scared that the thing we've decided is best for us isn't actually the best??
Oh yeah, absolutely - the thing I do has to be The Thing. Because if it’s not, then I’m doing it all wrong and I won’t change my body enough to be safe in the world bc I’ll still be in the Wrong Body?! Agh. It’s certainly why I felt myself getting defensive and had to talk myself out of that position. We all just wanna be right and ok. Just like everybody else.
I started reformer Pilates 3 years ago at a studio that really caters to all body types and ages. I loved the studio so much and learned a great deal there. I had had a hysterectomy the year prior to starting and had noticed my core needed some help. I've done yoga for years but needed something else, and while I have tried so many workouts and gyms over the years, I've never really stuck with any, other than yoga and walking, long-term.
I've since moved to a different city and am attending a Pilates studio that's more of a chain, but I'm still really enjoying it. They have a variety of classes at different levels that mix mat, chair, and Reformer and I can tell that I've gotten stronger and my muscles have toned up over the years. It's slow progress, but I absolutely love it and it's an exercise I actually enjoy going to! Huzzah!
Whenever I think of Pilates, though, I think of Madonna in the 90s (and her red kabbalah bracelet). The ladies' magazines and tabloids were always getting photos of her leaving workouts and showcasing her muscular arms and touting the benefits of Pilates, but I think she was likely doing A LOT of working out, not just Pilates.
Oh man, those women's magazines and their hyperfixation on a certain type of arms. Yeesh! I'm so glad you're feeling good and strong — that is awesome <3
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
I’ve been considering trying to find a Pilates studio because Pilates is often recommended for people with HSD and HEDS, all the positive things you said about it make me think I should finally look into that further.
Ahh I hope you do, and that you find it supportive! Also: I really want to learn (and hopefully write) more about exercising with HSD and HEDS.
I would love to have more content related to exercise and hEDS / HSD! There is so little out there about it.