Trends in the fitness world move as quickly as fast fashion. Prancercising, hula hooping, kangaroo jumping, flash mobs, and pounding have all had their moment. Even the traditional fitness mainstays, running, strength training, cycling and swimming, have had their fads and fusions. Whether it’s Tabata, HIIT, CrossFit, barefoot running, treadmill dancing, parkour, or aqua cycling, there’s always something new and exciting breaking through and taking over. My least favorite has been the “hot” everything trend. Hot yoga, hot Pilates, hot Barre, hot weight lifting. Ugh.
Within the Pilates community, the traditional mainstays have been Classical Pilates and Contemporary Pilates.
But like all of the other movement modalities, Pilates has not been immune to trends or fusions. PiYo, also know as Yogalates, is a fusion of Piates + Yoga. Piloxing pairs Pilates with boxing. Legree uses Mega Reformers in a method that is essentially athletic training on the Pilates equipment w/o the Pilates method. Aerial Pilates, Pilates HIIT and probably a million more that I’m missing have all made their way into the Pilates sphere.
With so many fads competing for attention, it’s common to pit different fitness modalities against each other, and even within the same modality, various approaches often battle for dominance.
HIIT vs Tabata. CrossFit vs traditional Strength Training. Trail running vs road running. Pilates vs Yoga. Pilates vs Barre. Pilates vs Strength Training. Pilates vs HIIT. Classical Pilates vs Contemporary Pilates.
Social media is rife with debates about which workout is superior, creating a competitive atmosphere that can be confusing and sometimes dangerous, as influencers share more and more extreme versions of their routines to gain followers.
But what if we shifted the narrative from competition between modalities to collaboration?
My personal movement practice includes running, strength training, mountain biking, paddleboarding, ballroom dancing and Pilates, with running being my first, favorite and primary exercise type.
But I couldn’t run with out Pilates.
Before Pilates, I was running injured 90% of the time, seeing a chiro weekly and living through a cycle of injury->recover->injury->recover-> repeat. Pilates has helped me run 3-7 days/week for the last 15 years.
Without Pilates, I wouldn’t have the core strength, mobility or knee tracking needed for strength training. I wouldn’t have the confidence to attempt the balance exercises or new things that Josh, my trainer, throws my way.
Pilates frequently gets me through ballroom exercises, has helped on high ropes courses, allows me to stand confidently on the paddleboard, ensures my back doesn’t hurt after 6 hours of bagging 14’ers.
For me, Pilates isn’t my life, it’s the key to my life.
So why pit it against other modalities?
Instead of “Pilates vs”, why not “Pilates and….”.
Pilates vs and Strength Training
Strength training is essential for building muscle mass, boosting metabolism, and improving bone density. Whether you’re lifting weights, using resistance bands or body weight, strength training builds strength and hypertrophy.
If not done properly, traditional strength training can sometimes lead to muscle imbalances, reduced flexibility, and overtraining or injuries.
*Cue Pilates.
Pilates, with its focus on functional strength, deep core strength and stability, is a powerful complement to strength training. Pilates exercises not only enhance core strength and improves stability, it also promotes better posture, brain+body connection, alignment and mobility, all requirements of a good strength training practice.
Increased core strength through a Pilates practice can actually make strength training exercises more effective, as a strong core supports heavier lifts and more complex movements. Additionally, the emphasis on controlled, precise movements in Pilates helps to reduce the risk of injury by improving muscle coordination and balance.
Incorporating Pilates to a strength training practice can help address muscle imbalances, improve flexibility, and enhance overall movement efficiency. On the flip side, the muscle gains from strength training can support and enhance Pilates practice, allowing for more advanced movements and better endurance.
Pilates vs and Yoga
When they’re not being fused together in creative ways like PiYo, Pilates and yoga are often pitted against one another as mortal movement enemies. (ok that’s dramatic, but you get the idea.)
The truth is that Pilates and yoga have a lot of similarities and complement each other really well. Both practices emphasize breath control, flexibility, mindfulness and the mind-body connection.
Where they differ is in their original purpose and intent of practice. Yoga includes a spiritual aspect rooted in a religious tradition that’s over 2000 years old. Yoga classes incorporate meditation, internal awareness and spirituality to encourage relaxation, stress relief, alignment and spiritual health. While yoga can be a great tool for mobility, it’s primary focus has always been on the spirit. The original yogis practiced yoga as a way to prepare their bodies for hours of deep meditation.
Pilates, on the other hand, a relative baby at 100 years old, has always been much more focused on the physical body. Core strength, stability, focus, precision of movement, proper alignment and correct body mechanics. While you may experience relaxation or spiritual growth in a Pilates practice, it’s an added bonus, rather than the main focus.
For folks who primarily practice yoga, incorporating Pilates can provide strength-building exercises that support and enhance their yoga practice, particularly when it comes to developing stability around the joints and preventing hypermobility or overuse injuries.
The core strength developed in Pilates can also help with balance and alignment in yoga postures, reducing the risk of injury and allowing for more advanced poses. Pilates also often includes gait training and a pulling component, which are frequently missing from a yoga practice.
Conversely, the stretching and relaxation techniques of yoga can complement Pilates by improving flexibility and mental focus, helping practitioners to execute Pilates movements with greater ease and control.
Pilates vs and Running
Running is a repetitive, high-impact activity that places significant stress on the joints, particularly the knees, hips, ankles and low back.
Pilates helps counterbalance the intensity of running by strengthening the core, improving posture, and increasing flexibility, all of which are crucial for efficient and injury-free running. The core stability developed through Pilates supports better alignment and reduces the risk of common running injuries like runner’s knee, IT band syndrome, Plantar Fasciitis and shin splints. Additionally, the focus on breath control in Pilates can improve a runner’s breathing technique, leading to better endurance and stamina during long runs.
The Pilates Jump Board can also help improve gait, landing, and endurance, making it an excellent training companion for runners.
Pilates vs and HIIT/Tabata
Like running, HIIT and Tabata are known for their intensity. That intensity can sometimes lead to muscle strain, fatigue, and injury, particularly if not balanced with recovery and proper technique. Once again, that leads us to Pilates.
With its emphasis on control, precision, and core strength, Pilates can provide the perfect counterbalance to the intensity of HIIT or Tabata. Using Pilates as a recovery workout can help alleviate muscle soreness, improve flexibility, improve joint stability, increase balance and promote control during quick bursts of movement.
A strong core and better alignment can lead to more efficient movement patterns, reducing the risk of injury and allowing for more intensity and power during HIIT and Tabata.
The Key to Better Movement: Pilates AND
Whether you lift, run, hike, yoga, dance, HIIT or cycle, Pilates can help you build deep core strength, enhance flexibility, improve stability and balance, develop better posture and alignment, promote better mechanics, master breathing and increase functional mobility.
The key is to approach it as a collaboration, rather than a competition.
Pilates and…
If you’re ready to start your Pilates collaboration and enjoy the benefits of a Pilates practice in your normal workout routine, we’re here to help! Give me a call, reply to this email or shoot me a text.