"Advanced" Doesn't Mean "Better"

In most cases, the concept of levels means that the higher up you go, the better things will be. In Pilates, this means that the levels of beginner, intermediate, and advanced correspond to exercises that are progressively more challenging and provide a more enriching workout. But it's important to remember that not everyone's goals are the same. Every body is different. Every life is different. And workout regimens should reflect the ultimate goals that an individual may have. Just because something is considered an intermediate exercise or an advanced exercise doesn't necessarily mean it is a "better" exercise for that individual. 

It's easy enough to understand what a beginner exercise entails. It breaks an exercise down to its most fundamental principles so that individuals unfamiliar with Pilates can establish a solid foundation in its teachings and movements before progressing to more technical and challenging exercises. Intermediate and advanced exercises are about incorporating more movements with more body parts that require further strength and flexibility. 

However, just because someone has the strength and flexibility to perform an intermediate or an advanced exercise doesn't necessarily mean that it's the best exercise for them to perform in their Pilates practice. Sometimes, performing an advanced exercise runs contrary to their ultimate goals. For example, if someone is already very physically active, constantly working out their muscles in other areas of their life, performing a very fast-paced routine may not benefit them as much as slowing down and focusing on core Pilates tenets. If someone's muscles are sore and overworked, then taking an exercise slower to allow for a greater stretch with strength building would be better than doing something more rigorous, even if they have the capabilities to perform it. In that way, the labels of beginner, intermediate, and advanced become misleading as they only refer to the difficulty of the exercise rather than the skill level of the individual performing them. This individual may actually benefit more from a beginner exercise than an advanced one.