LEARNING PILATES

There are two basic ways to learn and practice Pilates: 1) Private or semi-private sessions and, 2) Mat classes, which are group classes that take place on a mat using no equipment. Most clients work an ideal combination of sessions and mat classes.

About Pilates Equipment. Joe Pilates designed various pieces of equipment that are used during a portion of private and semi-private sessions. The manufacturer of Pilates equipment that first began building the various apparatus for Joe decades ago, Gratz Industries, is still carrying on its long-standing tradition of superior workmanship and strict adherence to Joe’s original plans. With the exception of one Peak Cadillac, all PPNW equipment is manufactured by Gratz Industries.

Here’s a brief description of what you can expect in a private session, a semi-private session and a mat class at Pilates Powerhouse NW™.

Private Sessions. During private sessions, clients work one-on-one with a teacher. A typical private session will begin with a workout on various pieces of Pilates equipment followed by some mat work. Using the equipment, you’ll achieve your own Pilates body more quickly than if you were to exclusively perform the mat work because on the apparatus, you work harder because you move your body weight against the resistance of springs. In a private session, your teacher tailors your workout to your particular needs and goals and the individual attention you receive helps you advance as quickly as possible.

It might be that a painful condition or injury will be greatly helped by Pilates but it’s a general rule that if you’re injured, you must work in Privates until you’ve recovered. Semi’s, Group and Mat Classes are not appropriate for injured clients.

Semi-Private Sessions, 2-5 clients.

Semi-privates are an economical way to practice Pilates and they work best for clients who are uninjured, relatively fit and coordinated. It’s imperative that clients in semi-privates be able to hold a correction once your teacher’s focus has shifted to someone else. If you get lost easily and repeatedly need individual attention from your teacher, semi’s are not for you.

Ideally, you’d take enough private sessions to learn a basic reformer and mat workout before going into semi’s, but it is possible to take semi’s from the start by meeting the criteria; uninjured, relatively conditioned, can hold a correction, are coordinated.

Once you’re cleared for semi-privates, we’ll try to match you with someone who’s similar in ability, goals and body type and you’ll work virtually the same routine at the same time. That way, you get the most amount of attention and help as possible. Structured this way, the semi-private format is so controlled that instructors are able to teach new exercises in semi-privates (something that’s rarely done at other studios) and clients still get the extra motivation and zing that only comes when you work out with somebody right by your side, matching you breath for breath, move for move.

Mat Class, maximum 12 clients. The first exercises Joe Pilates created were performed on the floor, there are 34 of them and they are referred to as the matwork. Even the “easiest” of them is far above the ability level of most beginners and although the matwork is the way most clients experience Pilates because the cost of mat classes is relatively low, mat is best done in conjunction with the resistance work of the equipment. In Joe’s writings he makes it clear that matwork in conjunction with the resistance of equipment is ideal; they were designed to go together but the cost of learning Pilates prohibits many clients from working on equipment. At Pilates Powerhouse NW, we have a meaningful mat program and if you can meet certain criteria to join mat class, you’ll get a fabulous mat workout for under $20.

Mat exercises are really hard to do correctly; in fact, they are the most challenging of all Pilates exercises because they are performed open-chain. If you’re injured, if anything hurts, if you’re deconditioned or uncoordinated, mat class is not for you.

In our mat classes, a maximum of 12 people at various ability levels are led through most of those 34 original mat exercises plus a bunch commonly taken from the reformer and other pieces of Pilates equipment.

At PPNW, we always begin our mat classes with full body warm-ups and patterning movements to help get your mind and body ready to do Pilates mat exercises. And, to ensure that everybody gets a great workout, every time, we have a minimum proficiency standard.

All mat class clients must know the following in order to be cleared to attend mat classes:

• how to access your Powerhouse muscles and maintain that engagement through movement
• your beginning safe ranges of motion and how to tell when you’re ready to increase the
• challenge by increasing your range of motion
• any modifications you may need for weakness, injury or discomfort

If you want to do mat but don’t know anything about Pilates and are starting from scratch, you can also take a 30 minute Focus Private to learn what you need to know in order to get into mat class. It’s possible to be cleared for mat class without taking a Focus Private if your conditioning and background in athletics is a good match for Pilates. Everyone is different and there is no firm formula for figuring this out so give us a call and let’s talk about you, your goals, your commitment, how well you’re conditioned and we’ll make a plan to get you on the mat.