A week ago a client came into the studio outraged. She had read a New York Times blogpost
that said that Yoga made you stronger than Pilates…I smiled and told her that
it was okay because we knew the truth.
I didn’t seek out the article.
I’ve read enough articles that compare Pilates to Yoga, and in general I
find that the authors are looking at the practices from the outside, passing
judgment without all of the information (Seriously type Pilates vs Yoga into
your favorite search engine and see the litany.)
The next day a few more clients mentioned the article, and I
still found myself uninterested in finding it. Then a client with quite an appreciation for the satiric
happenings of the world (which is why we get along so well) came in and said, “You
are a part of a HUGE controversy,” He had a grin on his face and I immediately
knew what he was referring to.
I said, “I’ve already heard about the article.”
“It’s not the article that is interesting it’s the comments.”
I immediately remembered a course I took from Tom
Myers. This course was intended to
teach yoga and pilates instructors myofascial anatomy. At one point we were discussing the “very
controversial” shoulder blades, and it became an all out argument between 40
yoga and pilates instructors. It
was Pilates vs Yoga and the question was “Where should the shoulder blades be
in downward facing dog?” Opinions differed and passions flew. People were
behaving as if the “correct” placement of the shoulder blades would literally
save the world from utter destruction. There were some of us on the sidelines that did not participate
in the argument. I think that we
really just wanted to get back to the fascial connections between the rhomboids
and the serratus anterior. I
remember at one point leaning over to my friend and whispering, “Can’t we all
just get along…”
As I was reminiscing I decided that I had to see some of
these comments even if it was for the mere entertainment of Yoga Instructors
arguing with Pilates Instructors. I’ve always wondered why we do that. I can almost envision the SNL sketch
now. The next day I searched for
the article and I found several links but each one led me to a blank web page
that said article unavailable check back later. I thought to myself, “Did a ridiculous article comparing
Yoga to Pilates create so much web traffic that it brought down the servers at
The New York Times…Now that would be funny!” Wouldn’t Tina Fey make a great Pilates Instructor for a
shoulder blade smack down?
But alas today, I searched for the article again and it
popped up. I finally got to read
the article that has infuriated so many of my clients. And as I suspected the article was
short on information, and quite inaccurate at least on the Pilates End…And as
my client said there were a lot of comments. It took me an hour to read them all. What can be learned from this…People
that teach Pilates and Yoga are passionate about their work and an ill
informed, poorly written article will bring everyone out of the woodwork to
take down the servers of the New York Times (Okay I don’t know that that was the reason that I couldn’t
find the article originally, but it makes me smile to think that it was.)
But then I read my favorite comment, which came from Brent
Anderson founder and president of Polestar Pilates Education.
“There is now ample research
that is evidence based for both yoga and Pilates that support mind-body work as
a valid intervention for cancer, pre-postpartum, balance dysfunctions, neurological
impairments, orthopedic injuries, post-surgical, geriatric, performance
enhancement and much more. Over the past 25 years we have been collaborating
with researchers of movement from around the world to discover what it is that
makes these mind-body works so different from traditional exercise and rehabilitation.
This article talked about strengthening the core and large muscles. The
reality is that this is a very Western approach to movement. Those of us that
practice Yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonic, and Tai Chi find something much greater than
just strength in muscles. The majority of research shows that strength and
flexibility have weak correlations with functional improvement.
What does seem
to make a significant difference is the change in perception of one’s ability
to have successful movement experiences. When these practices, any of them, are
taught correctly they shift the individual's paradigm of how they see
themselves. It is an alignment process. It is great that strength and
flexibility are natural side effects of these practices, but should not be the
primary focus. What the next article should focus on are the similarities that
exist between these movement forms and what makes a great teacher of mind-body
movement.
Namaste,”
Brent Anderson PhD, PT
At the beginning of the month I got to witness Brent
Anderson teach a Pilates Mat class to Pilates Instructors and Special Olympians
at The Polestar Life Conference in San Diego… The Special
Olympic Athletes were
paired with Pilates Instructors, and I can’t tell you when I’ve been more
touched by moving with people…It was truly a special night. Yoga is movement, Pilates is movement,
and movement is magic…Can’t we all just get along!?!
 |
| Getting ready for the mat class |
Notice I didn’t post a link to the blogpost…Don’t
read it, just go move!
Katrina Hawley, C.M.A, PMA®-CPT
Director of Instruction at The Pilates Studio
