Pilates Is A Mindset

There's a lot of miscommunication and misunderstanding as to what Pilates actually is within the public consciousness. Because the word Pilates has become so diluted over time, it gets bunched in with other exercising buzzwords. And while Pilates certainly incorporates exercise machines and specific exercises for people to learn, that's not the true nature of what Joseph Pilates was teaching. It's not just a series of exercises to learn from a book. It's a state of mind and philosophy that one can incorporate not just during a workout but during every aspect of their life. 

At its core, Pilates is about utilizing extension and flexion to strengthen the entire body as a single unit. This philosophy can be applied to almost anything. Of course, it's heavily focused upon when inside a Pilates studio, as that is when it's most on people's minds. However, this mindset can apply to everyday tasks such as simply walking down the street or sitting in a chair. One could be fully aware and conscious of their posture and body position to strengthen their core, powerhouse, and more. 

What people think of as Pilates in regards to exercise isn't the exercises themselves. The exercises are merely the execution of that philosophy. The same applies to the equipment. Just using Pilates equipment doesn't mean one is practicing Pilates. The equipment is specifically designed to put the Pilates Method into practice in the best ways possible. Understanding the difference between going through the motions of Pilates exercises and living one's life according to the philosophy is what allows one to be a true practitioner of the Method.