Keepin' it Real

In the most recent issue of Pilates Style Magazine, there is an interesting article on Peter Fiasca's book, "Discovering Pure Classical Pilates."(classicalpilates.net) Fiasca offers interesting insight that all instructors would do well to keep in mind. It is so easy to jump on the next fad, or even invent your own, in order to keep your "competitive advantage" over the countless other studios, especially in the current economy. We have to remember, however, that while Joseph Pilates was refining and adding to his method up until his final days, his changes were based on years of self-study and working with students, and his approach was quite scientific. Any attempt to "improve upon" a system with proven results without the same lifelong dedication to and study of the art and science of the Pilates method is foolish or arrogant, or perhaps both.

I in no way mean to discredit the few in the crowd who have that lifelong dedication and scientific approach to the Pilates method. You know who you are, and you bring tremendous benefit to the Pilates community through your efforts.

Nor am I taking a stab at the "fusion" classes that exist. I'm a dedicated yoga practitioner and I know that the two disciplines compliment each other extremely well, so well in fact that I have thrown Pilates exercises into yoga classes where I knew my students would benefit, and vice versa. That siad, it needs to be made explicit, so that our students understand the differences between Pilates, yoga, and the slew of other techniques that have been thrown in the fitness fad blender as of late.

What it comes down to is that when we advertise a class as a Pilates class, that term should have a uniform set of standards that qualify it as such, and those standards are the ones dictated by Joseph Pilates. If you are deviating from those standards, you may want to give your class a name that more accurately reflects what is being taught.