I know the stereotypical Pilates student, I see them all the time. I lived above a store (lululemon) that sells clothing to these people. But Pilates is about so much more than them. I know I am being a bit of a snob, making a statement like that. But honestly, Pilates is one of the best physical (and mental) exercise disciplines I have ever learned about or participated in.
In May 2009 my girlfriend Ashley began training to become a Pilates instructor, so most of my knowledge on this subject is passed on from her. Before this my only knowledge of Pilates was that it was something similar to Yoga, and pretty lame. I was oh so very wrong. Right from the beginning, at its basics, Pilates is about learning your body. Yes it is about strengthening your core to support the rest of your body. Yes it can help you loose weight. Yes it is about strengthening and lengthening your muscles. Yes it is about becoming more flexible and more physically healthy. But it is also an amazing technique in becoming more aware of your body. There are so many visualizations that the instructors use to help you imagine what your body is doing. When you sit up from lying down, you curl up, deliberately lifting each vertebra from the mat after the preceding one. When you place your arms above your head to begin one of several stretches, you align your shoulder blades with each other and your ribcage. You learn how your body is supposed to work. In Pilates you align and correct your body, reverting and fixing bad posture and physical habits. It has been said that if you meet someone that you have not seen for some time after doing Pilates for while, they will have a hard time recognizing you as the same person. While I am unsure of how true this really is, I can completely understand the concept. Imagine your friend has terrible posture and walks incorrectly. Now imagine seeing them for the first time after a year of Pilates in which they have learned to stand upright and take long strides because of the realignment their body has gone through. I could imagine that being a rather remarkable sight.
I've participated in a few different sports and exercise/workout techniques throughout my life, and Pilates is one of the few pure and positive ones. I received my Black Belt in Korean-style American Karate, and that is the only one that comes close to the dedication and positive focus of Pilates. I have seen so many articles and news stories on athletes who need surgery or physical therapy for one reason or another. There are an incredible amount of MLB pitchers who receive surgery on their elbows and shoulders for constantly throwing a ball (however fast, curved, or game-winning) incorrectly compared to how their body works. I cycle a lot, and it can be bad for your knees, neck, and back (if you are doing it incorrectly). Sure, athletes at pro levels are very fit (most of the time) and can have great looking bodies. But as for longevity of the body, these activities just don't hold a candle to the type of positive reinforcement that Pilates can provide.
Everyone remembers the Star Wars Kid. He grabbed a video camera and a pole, and started flailing about in his room. My friend Greg and I had a discussion about him once, concerning bodily awareness. It's easy to make fun of that kid. He looks silly. But he was learning how to wield a weapon. He was learning how his body functions. Who knows, maybe in the years since then, sans video tapes, he has mastered a style of martial arts. I have seen many people so completely disconnected from the physicality of their presence in the world it's laughable and saddening. They could take a hint from the Star Wars Kid.
I think Pilates is an incredibly important tool in awareness, and I have had conversations with Ashley about this very idea. This sort of attention paid to one's own body can easily translate to many other parts of life. The more aware you are of the systems in your own body, the easier it is to become more aware of the systems surrounding you.
Until another time,
Thank you.
-z
p.s. This blog post is now the #1 Google hit for "star wars kid pilates" (without quotes). How am I the first person to make that argument? /sarcasm
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