Buyer Beware - Do Your Pilates Due Diligence

When I moved to Charleston, most people didn't know what Pilates was, or had experienced a fusion version of Mat Pilates (Yogilates, PiYo, Body Flow), on a yoga mat, so had no concept of Pilates apparatus. Several have since commented they know now -- based on a equipment informercial on cable TV. Whether you're thinking about adding equipment to your home gym, taking classes at a local studio or learning more about Pilates, do due diligence.

Long Stretch on Reformer

If you're thinking about buying apparatus, make sure to understand the purpose and function and that you, or someone who can teach you, are qualified to safely use the equipment. Know the dimensions, weight and how much clearance is needed on all sides, including when in use. If this seems obvious or crazy, search the "for sale" section of craigslist -- there are dozens of items listed that have never been out of the box or rarely used. Buyers didn't have enough room, didn't know how to use, didn't get a good workout (i.e. didn't know how to use the equipment), or were overwhelmed watching a DVD and figuring out the intricacies of the apparatus. A DVD may be helpful, but probably won't be descriptive enough to walk a new user through the exercises, since watching the screen and doing the exercises at the same time isn't possible.

Make sure the seller is reputable and selling what they claim. This week, a woman in California was convicted of importing and trafficking counterfeit Bowflex, Beachbody and Maiibu Pilates equipment (all brands featured in infomercials). Her sentence was 90 years in jail and $12 million in fines, so she must have sold a sizable quantity before she was caught.

Peak Pilates Wunda Chair

Most importantly, be sure to understand all the safety guidelines and the potential consequences. The simplest pieces of Pilates equipment often appear to be the most benign, when in fact, they are the most difficult and most likely for a newcomer to sustain an injury.

An easier way to get a great workout is to find a local Pilates studio. Not only will the studio offer private, small-group and class sessions utilizing the apparatus that caught the buyer's eye, but several other pieces as well. Different apparatus provide a more well-rounded, balanced and comprehensive workout, as each apparatus has its own purpose and provides particular challenges for the client. Most studios have high-quality, name-brand equipment (Peak Pilates, Balanced Body, Gratz, Pilates Designs by Basil). 

Most studios have high-quality, name brand equipment, but not all. Shortly after I moved to Charleston, I found a studio that paid a local carpenter to make equipment for them. The owner selected a particular wood for the "look," to match the interior design of the studio. Although the equipment looked similar to name brand equipment, within 6 months, the equipment began falling apart mid-session, to the horror of instructors and clients, and at least one client was injured. The same studio had wall-mounted tower units that were installed incorrectly, and pulling away from the wall. Be sure to ask the studio about their equipment and maintenance. Some studios purchase rollaway or portable equipment from reputable manufacturers to reduce equipment costs. There is nothing wrong with this, as long as the equipment is properly used, installed and maintained, but it may not feel as sturdy or be as comfortable as higher-end models.

Tree on Ladder Barrel

Another advantage to studio equipment is that it's combined with personalized instruction by teachers with hundreds of hours of training and years of experience. With an instructor guiding the client through the exercises, the individual not only learns about the equipment and the exercises, but also receives cues from the instructor to improve his/her form and experience a better workout. Remember, instructors are people, and studios are run by people, so if one doesn't work for you, try another. It's a relationship -- clients need to feel supported, respected, comfortable and safe.

When calling or visiting a studio, ask about their equipment and teacher training, safety guidelines, etc. If you're not satisfied that the studio is knowledgeable and safety-conscious, or that the equipment is high-quality, installed correctly and well-maintained, or the instructors are well-trained and conscientious, keep looking.

Do due diligence. Know what you're paying for and understand how to make the most of it, whether it's home equipment or lessons in a studio.

Invest in Your Health: Pay for Pilates with Pre-Tax (HSA) $$

Many clients complain that Pilates is "too expensive." In talking with them, many are paying for 2-3 chiropractic sessions (or co-pays) per week due to pain, some are paying for expensive drug prescriptions, tests and doctor visits (or associated co-pays) to treat/identify the cause of chronic joint pain, others are paying for gym memberships they're not using (or not enjoying). Two to three sessions per week in a Pilates studio might alleviate the other expenses, or reduce to a point where your budget remains balanced. That's the Suze Orman approach to finding the money within your budget.

Another option is to use the pre-tax dollars you've set aside in your HSA or FSA (Health Savings Account) to pay for Pilates. In order to tap into these funds, you'll need an Exercise Prescription (RX). A licensed healthcare provider can write an Exercise Prescription to use Pilates to alleviate a particular condition.

Think about your physical well-being in the last year:

• Has your range of motion or flexibility lessened?
• Do you have chronic or intermittent pain in your: feet, knees, hips, back, neck, shoulder or hands?
• Have you had problems with balance?
• Do you have a chronic condition: arthritis, fibromyalgia, bursitis, bulging disc, osteoporosis, etc?
• Have you been diagnosed with obesity, heart disease or diabetes?
• Have you had a surgery or medical treatment that has left you with ongoing muscle pain or limits your range of motion?

Any of these conditions might qualify for an exercise prescription as all can be improved with regular Pilates exercise.

Doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturists, naturopaths, and osteopaths are able to write prescriptions for exercise, as long as they're licensed by the State. Ask before your appointment if your health provider is able to write an exercise prescription for someone with a specific condition. You’ll need an appointment so your licensed practitioner can assess your condition and offer his/her professional opinion as to whether it would improve with Pilates exercise.

An exercise prescription is similar to a pharmaceutical prescription. Usually, it lists the type of training, amount of training and time frame. The prescription should read along the lines of, “For treatment of xxxxx condition, Pilates exercise training #/week for # months.” Keep this prescription with your tax documents.

Invest in your health and wellness today. If you're committed to 3 sessions per week -- Take The Power House Challenge and get a FREE session.

Pilates Pet Peeve #3 -- "What Muscle Am I Working?"

Client: "What muscle am I working on this exercise?"
Client: "I only want to do exercises for my [insert body part - arms, glutes, thighs]."
Client: "I have a pain here [insert body part], what exercises work that?"

Central Pilates principle: it's ALL about the POWERHOUSE. Primary powerhouse is ribs to knees and all the way around (abs, obliques, back, glutes, thighs, glutes, hips). Secondary powerhouse is the shoulder girdle. Put the primary and secondary powerhouse together, add the mind-body connection (for control, not meditation or relaxation), and there is not much left. When clients ask which body part they're working on a particular exercise, powerhouse is always the best answer. Often times, the body part that is moving, or seems to be challenged most during the exercise, isn't the one that is most challenged. Clients rarely believe this until they experience it for themselves.

Any knowledgable fitness guru will tell you there is no such thing as spot reducing, all body parts need to be worked equally for body balance, all muscles need to be worked concentrically and eccentrically, and opposing muscle groups must be exercised. Joseph Pilates was an anatomy expert who designed a full-body workout, that works best when all the body parts work, and work together. It's true some Pilates exercises do more of one thing than another, but there are reasons why they're grouped a certain way. If allowed to pick and choose, most people will practice exercises they do well, not the ones they need.

So, when doing Pilates, instead of focusing on which muscle you're working, focus on getting all your muscles to work together for proper form. You'll get a much better, much deeper workout, and may be surprised to find muscles you didn't know were involved -- are sore.

Remember, it's all about the Powerhouse!