The fitness industry has embraced Pilates- even if it can barely pronounce its name. Although people think it is merely a form of exercise that can yield strong abs, what they don’t know is that there is a MAN behind these exercises. That man is Mr. Joseph Hubertus Pilates.

Pilates was born in Germany in 1880. A sickly child he suffered from Asthma, Rickets, and Rheumatic Fever. He was fascinated by the ideal Greek man who balanced mind, body, and spirit and was determined to heal himself from his ailments. He gained inspiration from Anatomy books and the movement of animals. His passion for health led him to study many types of movement including yoga, boxing, diving, and gymnastics.

In 1912 Joe was living in England when WWI broke out and was placed in an internment camp. It was here that he created his method and was able to successfully rehabilitate injured soldiers by removing the springs from their beds and using them to exercise their fragile bodies.

After the war, Pilates returned to Germany but was uncomfortable with its political and social conditions. In 1926, on his voyage to America, he met his future wife, Clara. Together they opened the first Pilates studio in the heart of NYC. His gymnasium attracted the professional dancers, actors, and businessmen that would subject themselves to his authoritative prodding in hopes to be transformed.

Joe lived to be 87 and had the spine of a 50 year old. Clara continued to run the studio until her death in 1977. Pilates said, “People won’t understand the brilliance of my work for 50 years.” While many still don’t know his name, they are changed by his method. Joe’s dream of a world of people doing Pilates has finally come true, even if they never knew he existed.

For me as an instructor and coach, I love working with beginners. Pilates Virgins as I call them, are the easiest to mold, are usually the most eager, and see the most change initially. I have no prerequisite of strength or prowess….just a willing person with a body that is dying to move!

Since Joe Pilates’ first studio happened to share an address with several professional dance companies, it was only natural that professional dancers became many of his first clients. This has a lot to do with why Pilates is associated with dancers and female dancers at that. However, while dancers gravitated to the work Joe believed everyone should do his method- especially men. Joe himself was a man’s man- smoking cigars, drinking beer, flexing his muscles to show the benefits of his work. In fact, originally 60% of the clientele in his first studio were men!

Bottom line Pilates is for everyone regardless of their strength or flexibility.

“The whole country, the whole world, should be doing my exercises. They’d be happier.”

While the Pilates mat work is the foundation of the entire Pilates system, is it only part of that system. Performing exercises on the floor is challenging and Mr. Pilates quickly realized that only a few people could complete his exercises correctly on the mat. This pushed him to invent apparatus that could support those who needed it.

Most days in Joe’s first Pilates studio, clients were performing mat exercises, as well as working out on various machines including his universal reformer. The addition of springs (on apparatus like the reformer, the cadillac, and the wunda chair) could add either support for those who need assistance performing certain exercises or a challenge for those who are ready for more resistance in their workout.

Bottom line: mat work is great for home practice since all you need is a mat, but make sure to get in time on the apparatus as well to really get the benefit of Pilates. If all else fails do Pilates. Any Pilates is better than no Pilates.

Anywhere from 5-50 minutes daily. Hear me out- moving your body daily is critical to the health of not only your body but also your mind. The benefits of movement are many but to name a few: it releases endorphins which help reduce stress, it helps create mental sharpness, gives you more energy, helps you sleep better, promotes healthy bones and joints, and reduces pain.

A minimum of one hour lesson a week is a must, but most practitioners try to get in at least three sessions a week. Those sessions can include private sessions or sessions with others like mat classes or semi-privates lead by a fully certified instructor. Pilates is a complicated type of exercise. There is a lot involved including concentration, breath, and control so you must approach your practice as a willing student. Having a teacher to guide you and teach you the method is key but part of committing to a movement practice is learning to practice on your own even if it’s just 5-10 minutes. The movement Lindsay teaches can be done everyday since it’s gentle and restorative. Sessions with Lindsay are accompanied by her catalog of digital workouts which provide the opportunity to experience different modalities, workouts of different lengths, ways to treat and prevent injury, as well as tools to up your mood.

Golden rule is the more movement the better!

Every situation is unique so it’s important to consult a medical professional when dealing with injuries, surgeries, or pregnancies. Once you get clearance from your doctor to workout, starting with private sessions is a must. By taking privates you allow me to individualize your workout and work around any limitations. This will allow you to learn which movements are right for your individual needs.

Esthetics like improved posture, flatter abs, and a perky butt are just the byproduct of your Pilates practice. In one of Mr. Pilates’ most famous quotes, “In 10 sessions you’ll feel better, 20 sessions you’ll look better, and by 30 sessions you’ll have a new body” he hints at making real change, and fast. The thing is that most likely Joe’s clients took 3-4 sessions a week and also did work on their own between sessions. So much is involved in losing weight and it’s a complicated process, which makes it hard for me to say definitively that you will lose weight with Pilates alone.

What I can say is that Pilates will:

• Burn calories

• Build strength which creates lean muscle mass

• Give you better posture, which makes you look slimmer

• Help promote deeper breathing which is essential for calorie burning and tissue regeneration

• Make you feel better about yourself which promotes self-esteem and health consciousness

The Pilates RX is my ode to Joe in giving my clients what they need.

Before it was coined “Pilates” after his death, Joe Pilates called his method Contrology. It is said that Joe would lure clients into the studio only to test their physical condition and declare they were out of shape and needed his exercises to achieve optimum health. It was at that point that either he or his wife Clara would give them a personalized workout they were expected to memorize. Yes MEMORIZE! They were required to come in and do their routine under Joe’s watchful eye. Joe realized that one-size did not fit all and wanted people to be independent in their self care.

Personally I saw the biggest changes to my Pilates practice when I stopped trying to do all of the exercises just because I was “advanced” enough. Under my mentor’s tutoring I instead focused on the movements meant for me and making sure I did them often. Teaching my clients independence from me also changed the game for my clients allowing them to truly embody the method mind and body.

My New Client Pilates RX is a 90 minutes session that can be done in person or via zoom. We’ll spend time going over your goals, assess your posture and movement patterns, and address any injuries or limitations. Plus we’ll move and sweat! Afterward we'll spend some time discussing a plan for your practice going forward.

If your first experience with Pilates is in my Pilates studio, expect to work on both the apparatus, (there are several) as well as on the mat.

If you’re venturing into Pilates for the first time in a group class such as my Movement Meet-up- you’re not alone. Many people find a group class less intimidating than a one-on-one lesson in a room full of torture looking devices. However, don’t be fooled into thinking that mat classes are easier. Work on the mat is unassisted and completely up to you to perform difficult exercises. Also, big classes increase the risk of injury because your instructor can’t be in 20 places at once. Make sure to tell me that you’re there for the first time and listen to your body- don’t do anything that hurts or seems above your comfort level.

Depending on your fitness level- you may find it initially challenging and overwhelming. Pilates embodies principles such as coordination, control, and breath, all of which can be improved if they initially seem foreign to you. The good news is- Pilates is cumulative, which means that you’ll begin to recognize the exercises after a few sessions. After several more sessions, you’ll gain an even deeper connection, so the workout becomes more challenging, not easier, and never boring. You’ll receive homework right away and will be expected to practice on your own between our sessions.