How is Progressive Pilates different than traditional Pilates?
Progressive Pilates takes the principles of Classical Pilates and brings it into the 21st century. The exercises of the Classical Pilates routine have been deconstructed to their basic intent and rebuilt with variations to make them even more effective, and much more engaging. The field of exercise science has grown tremendously since the decades since Joe and his students developed Pilates, and Progressive Pilates incorporates the latest theories, such as muscle confusion and functional training, into the program.
Members have said that they felt more in their first 20 minutes of Progressive Pilates than they did in over a year of taking classes at traditional Pilates studios.
Clients have said that they felt more in their first 20 minutes of Progressive Pilates than they did in over a year of talking classes at a traditional Pilates studio. If you've been going to a gym and working the machines with or without a personal trainer, and feeling beaten up after a workout, then you might not even realize how deep and effective Progressive Pilates can be until the next morning, when your abs wake you up!! In fact, instead of feeling pain, you should leave every session at the Studio feeling better than when you came in!!
Progressive Pilates places particular emphasis in how energy moves through the body, and how to best use that energy to strengthen, tone and define every muscle in your body without resorting to joints. Therefore, it is much more effective, healthful, not to mention, much, much, much more fun! It also teaches you how to listen and communicate with your body in a completely new way.
In a traditional Classical Pilates class, music is never used, whereas in a Progressive class, music is integral in setting the energy for the workout.
What is Pilates?
Pilates (pronounced puh-LAH-teez) is an extraordinary conditioning system which works on the entire body. This unique method was created by Joseph H. Pilates nearly a century ago during World War I.
Joseph Pilates, born in Germany in 1880, was a man of diverse interests including boxing, gymnastics, diving and skiing. While interned at a British Hospital, he started developing his unique system of exercise. Pilates felt strongly about focusing on the body as a whole, not dividing it into separate parts, with specific attention on developing the core. He believed that with fewer, precise, concentrated movements (Qualityvs. quantity), a series of specific exercises would elongate and balance the muscles and turn the abdominal, lower back and hips into the body’s “powerhouse” while at the same time bringing the individual better overall fitness, health and vitality.
Pilates is different from most exercises in that it’s extremely kind to your joints, safe and works the body as a whole. Pilates helps your posture and stretches your muscles during each exercise. Pilates is safe enough to do daily; in fact the more often you do Pilates, the quicker you will see results.
The Classical Pilates practiced today was actually established by a group of people who worked with him in New York. These individuals are often called the "First Generation" of Pilates instructors. They included his wife, Clara, , Romana Kryzanowska, Ron Fletcher, Eve Gentry, et. al. Every Pilates instructor, myself included, can trace their training back to this first generation. In fact, some people feel there is more prestige in how many degrees of separation there is between them and this first generation. Hence, you may see an instructor boast about being trained by a Second Generation or Third Generation Pilates teacher. I have been honored to be chosen as an instructor for a Second Generation Pilates protegée of Romana's.
In a Classical Pilates class, you do the same exercises in the same order every session. You add exercises as your technique improves, but the basic workout remains the same.