1. What is Pilates?
2. What are the benefits of Pilates?
3. How should I start?
4. Do I need to be in great shape to start?
5. What should I wear?
6. How often should I do Pilates?
7. How long are the sessions?
8. Will I use all the equipment in my session?
9. How long before I see results?
10. Will I lose weight?
11. I am older - can I still do Pilates?
12. If I'm pregnant can I still do Pilates?
13. If I have an injury can I still do Pilates?
14. I am very fit and coordinated. Do I still need to start with privates
before joining a class?
15. Will Pilates help me if I'm a competitive athlete?
16. What should I look for in an instructor?
17. What are your instructors' qualifications?
18. Do you offer Pilates Instructor Certifications?
19. How are Pilates and yoga different?
20. What is the difference between mat Pilates and equipment Pilates?
21. Can I bring a friend to my lessons?
22. Is there any daycare facility at the studio?
(If your question
isn't here, please email or call us, and we'll gladly answer any questions you
may have!)
1. What is Pilates?
A system of low-impact exercises that targets the deep muscles of the abdomen and spine
and strengthens the abdominals while protecting your lower back. Pilates
lengthens muscles as they are strengthened, resulting in long, lean, STRONG
muscles without the bulk. It works on improving alignment without
gravity so that muscle imbalances are corrected and posture is improved.
Muscles are trained to work as support for the skeleton, even if they're not
used during a specific movement -- the continual work of these smaller, deeper
muscles generate better posture, balance, strength, and breathing. Though it has recently become popular, a young German named Joseph Pilates
created this system during WWI, focusing mainly on rehabilitation. For a
better understanding of Pilates, please click on ABOUT.
 2. What are the benefits of Pilates?
The benefits of Pilates include increased endurance, balance, strength,
breathing capacity and flexibility, with longer, leaner, more defined
muscles!! Emphasizing proper breathing, alignment of the body, and
mental focus, the controlled series of rhythmic exercises uniformly develop
the body. The exercises are designed to strengthen and elongate the muscles
without adding bulk, increase flexibility and joint mobility, realign the
skeletal system for better posture, improve balance, coordination, and
increase bone density. The goal of Pilates is to create a balanced body
that is agile and structurally sound, with a focus on the “powerhouse” or core
-- the strengthening and stabilization of the spine, abdominals, and pelvis. Pilates exercises train several muscle groups at once, in smooth, continuous
movements. By developing proper technique, Pilates retrains the entire body to
work more efficiently, helping you to enjoy daily activities and sports with
greater ease and less chance of injury.
3. How should I start?
What we recommend and what you can afford can be two different things. But you
are doing the right thing by getting started! Any start is more beneficial to
your body than no start at all. We recommend starting with private
lessons so one of our instructors can develop a workout regime for you
designed to meet your needs. We offer an intro package of three privates to help
get you started. You may continue with
privates or try to join a duet or mat class to help bring the cost down.
Investing in at least 40 privates would give you enough knowledge of the
equipment to use Open Studio, which allows you to use the equipment on your
own. For
safety reasons, we reserve the right to require additional lessons before
Open Studio membership is allowed. Please let your instructor know that this is your goal
before you begin. Supplementing your equipment sessions with mat classes
is always recommended to receive the benefits of feedback from an instructor
and core strengthening.
 4. Do I need to be in great shape to start?
NO….the important thing is that you DO START! We have clients of all
shapes and sizes and everyone derives benefits. We promise to help you
meet your fitness goals safely and effectively and encourage you to give IE
Pilates a try.
5. What should I wear?
Please bring a pair of clean socks to wear. It's best to wear
workout clothing that is comfortable, somewhat tight-fitting, and allows full range of
movement. Biking shorts or leggings are
recommended. If you would like to wear shorts, please wear tight biker shorts
underneath as you will be lying on your back for many exercises. Socks
are mandatory; please no bare feet!
6. How often should I do Pilates?
Pilates is a form of exercise that you can do daily with a combination of
apparatus and mat work. We recommend 2 to 3 times per week to receive the full
benefit of Pilates. If
you are just starting out, we recommend you come at least three times a week for
the first month so that you and your body can learn the exercises. If
you can only come once a week, you will still derive benefits; however, the
"learning curve" will be a little longer as we may have to re-teach exercises
from week to week. If you can only afford one equipment session a week,
we strongly recommend that you add a mat class to your routine in
order to keep your body conditioned.
7. How long are the sessions?
55 minutes. If you would like to workout with an instructor for longer, you
must schedule additional time in 30 minute increments. If you are more
than 20 minutes late, your session is considered a “no show,” and you will be
charged for the full session. If you are late (less than 20 minutes) then
you’ll be given a condensed workout within your allotted timeslot.
8.
Will I use all the equipment in my session?
Your instructor will choose exercises that are right for you - which may or
may not mean that all equipment is utilized. If you have an interest in using
a certain piece of equipment just to "try it out," please let your instructor
know. There are exercises for everyone on every piece of equipment.
 9. How long before I see results?
Every body is different; therefore, every body responds differently to the
workout. Some of our clients have noticed differences in their posture and the
way they carry themselves in as few as three sessions. More significant
changes take longer. Please remember: you get out of your sessions what
you put into them! Our clients who come - even as infrequently as once a week
- and concentrate for the full hour and "give it their all," see more
improvements than clients who come more regularly but don't make the effort
when they are here.
 10. Will I lose weight?
Pilates is not intended to be a fast-paced, cardiovascular activity;
therefore, it may not help you lose weight, BUT it will help you lose inches!
We encourage our clients to do the "jeans" test. Try your jeans on
before you start Pilates, then pay attention to how they fit a few weeks later
after you've been working hard at Pilates. You'll notice a difference!
Your Pilates sessions will also increase lean muscle mass which is important
for increasing your metabolism.
 11.
I am older - can I still do Pilates?
Absolutely! Pilates safely increases range of
motion and balance which can be lost as we age. Our instructors are
highly knowledgeable and very compassionate: whether your goal is to loosen up
your shoulder joint so that you can reach to that top shelf, or to play with
your grandchildren without lower back pain, we can help you safely and
effectively achieve
your goals.
12.
If I'm pregnant can I still do Pilates?
WITH A DOCTOR'S PERMISSION! If you have been a client with us and become
pregnant after starting, it's usually considered safe to continue what you
have been doing with modifications. However, we do require you to check with
your doctor as every pregnancy is different. We have had many pregnant clients
who continue working out with us right up to delivery day, but you need to
find out what is best for your body. It is not advised to start ANY new
exercise system after becoming pregnant. Therefore, if you have just become
pregnant and
are thinking of starting Pilates, we advise you to wait, and we'll look
forward to seeing after you've delivered!
13. If I have an injury, can I still do
Pilates?
Yes, with doctor's permission. As with any medical condition or injury, it
is important that you speak with your physician prior to doing any form of
exercise. Once your doctor has approved and/or you have been released from
physical therapy, we will be happy to take you as a client. It's important
that we have written instructions from your doctor and/or therapist to make
sure we understand your injury so we can design your Pilates program
appropriately. The Pilates Method integrates well into a rehabilitative
exercise program. Our qualified instructors will make the necessary
modifications required to facilitate your medical condition or injury, to
provide you with a safe and beneficial workout within our scope of practice.
Again, we do not diagnose; we use your doctor and your physical therapist's
advice.
14. I am very fit and coordinated. Do I still
need to start with privates before joining a class?
For Mat class, no. For reformer classes, yes. Since technique is
so important in Pilates (for your benefit as well as your safety), we require
a minimum of eight private lessons before joining a reformer group. Not to mention,
it's courteous to the other class members. You'll appreciate this rule
when you are the "veteran" member of a group! If you are coming to us
with prior Pilates experience, we will waive this requirement if sufficient
knowledge of the equipment and exercises is displayed. Again, for safety
reasons, please honor this rule.
15. Will Pilates help me if I'm a competitive
athlete?
You'd be amazed at what Pilates can do for you in your area of athletic
expertise. From professional golfers, basketball players, and marathon runners
to dancers, gymnasts and supermodels, Authentic Pilates relates to all forms
of exercise and is one of the best all-around conditioning programs available!
It is ideal for cross-training purposes as it will help create a much better
understanding of your body and what it's capable of. In addition, it will
help create muscle symmetry which may become imbalanced through repetitive
forms of exercise on one side of the body (tennis, baseball, volleyball, etc).
 16. What should I look for in an instructor?
Before the Pilates trademark was lifted, a potential instructor had to go
through a vigorous training program and apprenticeship that usually averaged
around 600 hours consisting of observation, training, assisting, and teaching. Nowadays, one can get "certified" in a weekend. So if you're looking for a
good, qualified Pilates instructor, what should you do? ASK A LOT OF
QUESTIONS, such as where they got certified, how many hours of training were
required, what is their background, why did they get involved in Pilates, and
talk to some of their other clients. A well-trained Pilates instructor should
be able to cater to your specific needs. They should pay special attention to
detail, technique and muscle imbalances. Most importantly, you should never
hurt (especially in your back) after a Pilates workout. A good Pilates workout
should always be challenging, but leave you feeling GREAT, not wounded!
The Pilates Method Alliance has recognized the
problem of "weekend Pilates certifications," and will be issuing a national
standard Pilates certification exam sometime in 2005. This exam will
be the Standard for legitimate Pilates certifications and will be
nationally recognized. Once the PMA certification test is offered, all
of our instructors (new and old) will be required to take and pass this test!
17. What are your instructors'
qualifications?
Our instructor criteria is very strict and thorough. Our
instructors are fully trained on all Pilates apparatus and mat work exercises.
They're required to pass all quizzes and tests with 90% or higher. These
tests not only require extensive knowledge and physical demonstration of
all Pilates exercises, but also include
knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics, and postural assessment. In
addition, we also
require our instructors to demonstrate excellent teaching skills and
motivational skills. If you would like to see more detail of what
is required of our teachers, click on INSTRUCTOR.
18. Do you offer Pilates Instructor Certifications?
Yes. We're always looking for potential instructors who have a
passion for Pilates! Our certification program is extensive and requires
serious commitment and time. The course consists of 600 hours of
observation, practical training, lectures, assisting, and solo teaching.
At least 50 hours of reformer/mat hours are required prior to application. The
material covered includes all Pilates exercises on all apparatus and mat work,
biomechanics, anatomy, postural assessment, and innovative teaching skills.
For more details, click on INSTRUCTOR.
The Pilates Method Alliance has recognized the
problem of "weekend Pilates certifications," and will be issuing a national
standard Pilates certification exam at the end of 2005. This exam will be
nationally recognized as the Standard for legitimate Pilates
certifications. Once the PMA certification test is offered, all of our
instructors (new and old) will be required to take and pass this test!
Potential instructors must still take our Full Certification Course in order
to successfully pass the PMA test.
 19.
How are Pilates and yoga different?
Pilates is a mind-body system of exercise like yoga that focuses on
coordinating movement with breathing to create a more focused workout.
However, yoga is done on a mat without equipment and you are constantly
supporting your own body weight while holding certain positions. The equipment used for Pilates allows you to
stretch, strengthen and increase range of motion in supported positions.
Depending on which method of yoga you practice, yoga tends to focus more on
meditation than we do. At IE Pilates, we believe that yoga and Pilates
are very complementary. We encourage you to experience the benefits of both
and discover what combination is best for your body.
20.
What is the difference between mat Pilates and equipment Pilates?
Mat Pilates consists of exercises done on the floor on a
mat! Mat work can be done with or without small equipment (stretch
bands, magic circles, exercise balls, etc.) to add support or to add a challenge. Mat Pilates tends to be more challenging to the abdominals as you're moving
your own body weight without support. Equipment Pilates consists of over
500 exercises using specialized equipment reminiscent of medieval torture
contraptions a.k.a. Reformer, Cadillac, Chair and Barrels. The equipment
provides resistance for some exercises, while facilitating the movement of
others. Equipment work also
allows for more work on the arms, legs, shoulder and hip joints than does mat
work. Again, all equipment work is supported, so you are never jeopardizing
the safety of your lower back. Mat work is an excellent workout and an
excellent builder of core strength. Many clients find that their performance
in mat classes improves after practicing on equipment. Whether it's mat
work or equipment work, both focus on the "powerhouse" by focusing on the
quality of each exercise, not the quantity.
21. Can I bring a friend to my lessons?
Yes, as long as you understand that they may only observe (with your partner's
permission if your session is a duet).
As a courtesy to the other instructors and clients, please let your teacher
know prior to your lesson. The most optimal format is for you and your friend to take the discounted
introductory 3-pack of privates each, and then start your duets together.
Friends are always welcome to mat class as long as they participate and are in
the appropriate level.
 22. Is there any daycare facility at the studio?
Not at this time.
Since there is no childcare facility at the studio, and as a courtesy to other
clients, please leave children at home. If you are unable to get a babysitter,
please reschedule your session.
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