Q.
What is Pilates?
A. The Pilates
Method (sometimes simply Pilates)
is a physical fitness system that was developed in
the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates. Pilates wrote
at least two books about the Pilates method: Return
to Life through Contrology and Your Health:
A Corrective System of Exercising That Revolutionizes
the Entire Field of Physical Education.
Pilates
called his method Contrology, which refers to
the way the method encourages the use of the mind to control the
muscles. The program focuses on the core postural muscles
that help keep the body balanced and are essential to
providing support for the spine. In particular, Pilates
exercises teach awareness of breath and alignment of
the spine, and strengthen the deep torso muscles, which
are important to help alleviate and prevent back pain.
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Q.
What should I wear?
A. Wear
socks or be barefoot. Baggy sweats or loose fitting clothing
make it difficult to correct your body. Help us help
you and dress appropriately using the tips below.
Women
are encouraged to wear exercise tights or bike shorts,
and a tight fitting shirt or leotard. Long
hair should be pulled up so that you can lie on your
back comfortably.
Men
are encourage to wear compression under shorts, bicycle
shorts & T-shirt or tank.
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Q.
How do I get started?
A. To
ensure that you are guided in the right direction, we
encourage all new students to schedule an initial private
consultation. This gives our professional staff an opportunity
to identify your unique, individual needs, helps us learn
more about your body, and will ensure that you are in
the best possible programs to reach your goals.
Step
1: Download and complete our New
Client Registration Form, or request a copy by
calling the studio at (316) 265-9700.
Step
2: Return your completed registration
form:
Fax: 265-9700
Mail: P.O.
Box 3526, Wichita, KS 67201-3526
In
Person:
Centerworks Pilates 210 N. Washington
>> VIEW
MAP
Step
3: We will promptly contact you to
answer any questions to might have, discuss the programs
we believe would be best for you to begin, and get
you scheduled for your first session.
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Q.
How much does it cost?
A. Fees
for Pilates training will vary depending upon the services
you utilize. Private training fees can range from $40
to more than $100 per hour depending on the expertise
and qualifications of the teacher. (Fees for Pilates
Lessons are comparable to Personal Training at a gym
or health club.) Mat Class fees can range from $8 to
$25 or more per class. Studios may offer discounts for
packages, special pricing for specific services or other
programs in addition to Mat classes and Private Training.
Fees might also be slightly higher or lower depending
of the city or area of the country you live in.
Click
Here: To download a PDF copy of current program & service
information for Centerworks Pilates Studio.
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Q.
I use Pilates books and videos at home, why should I
participate in lessons at Centerworks®?
A. Books
and videos can be good tools to help you remember what
you're doing. However, nothing can replace the eye of
a qualified and experienced Pilates teacher to help you
understand the exercises and find the right muscles to
do each exercise correctly. Books and videos will show
you the basics of the exercises, but won't help you become
aware of the ways you're cheating, or help to identify
your bad habits and assist you in correcting them. Also,
not every exercise is for every person. Following exactly
what's on a video may be dangerous for your body. Besides,
just doing Matwork is only half of the system, so you're
missing out on half the benefits Pilates has to offer.
Use of both the Pilates equipment and mat exercises is
the ideal and correct way to utilize the Pilates system.
A
qualified Pilates teacher can help you:
- Find
the right muscles to get the most benefit from the
exercises.
- Learn
how to modify or tweak the exercises for your body
to be in safest position.
- Identify
which exercises are appropriate for your body and which
exercises you should skip or wait awhile before adding
to your workout.
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Q.
How do I know if my Pilates instructor is a qualified
teacher?
A. Great
Question! Anyone can call themselves a Pilates Teacher - If
they've read a book and watched a video, participated
in a weekend workshop, or completed a Comprehensive
Pilates Teacher-Training program. It's a buyer-beware
market right now. To the uneducated consumer, without
asking questions, you may not know if your teacher
has the background and experience necessary to really
help you get the most from your Pilates experience.
The Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) is an international
non-profit organization to provide information and
education to Pilates teachers and consumers.
The
PMA™ recommends that anyone wishing to teach the
Pilates method:
- Participate
in a Pilates exercise program prior to attending
a teacher training program.
- Attend
a comprehensive training program, and maintain a
commitment to education.
The
following are general guidelines, questions, and information
you can use to help search for a qualified Pilates teacher:
- Are
the instructors trained through a comprehensive training
program?
- Did
that training program require a written and practical
test, lecture, observation, practice and apprentice
hours?
- How
many total hours were spent in the training program?
(The Pilates Method is a knowledge based method of
exercise and training. Time spent in certification
training produces qualified teachers.)
- Does
the instructor have any other movement related teaching
experience.
- How
long have the instructors been teaching Pilates?
- What
is the instructor's/ studio's philosophy and specialty?
Are they able to handle special needs, injuries and
rehabilitation?
- Does
the instructor or studio teach the full repertoire
of Pilates on all pieces of apparatus?
Aliesa
George, founded Centerworks® Pilates
and was the first to bring Pilates to Wichita in 1994.
Centerworks® Pilates
is the premiere facility specializing exclusively in
Pilates education, offering a full studio of Pilates
equipment with a well-trained and highly educated team
of Pilates professionals. All teachers at Centerworks
have completed an extensive comprehensive teacher-training
program of over 700 hours - covering both Matwork and
Equipment. Centerworks® teachers
support the Pilates Method Alliance though membership.
And in addition to providing classes and personal instruction
to the general public, Centerworks® Pilates
Institute offers a well established Comprehensive Teacher-Training
Program to develop new teachers and insure that Pilates
training will be available to all who wish to participate.
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Q.
How do I find a Pilates studio with qualified, comprehensively-trained
Pilates teachers?
A. In
Wichita, contact Centerworks® Pilates
at (316) 265-9700, or www.Pilates-Wichita.com. For
instructor referrals across the country or internationally,
you can find a listing of teachers through the Pilates
Method Alliance at www.pilatesmethodalliance.org.
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Q.
I thought Pilates was just Mat exercises…?
A. This
is a huge misconception that has been generated by
the sale of Pilates products, videos, and books. Because
the demand for “Pilates” many health & fitness
facilities have started offering “Pilates” without
understanding it fully. By utilizing instructors that
have not had comprehensive Pilates education, and teaching
only the Pilates Matwork – many participants
have been led to believe that Pilates is like a yoga
or aerobic class.
On
the bright side, the increase in products and classes
available has helped increase awareness about Pilates
for fitness and health. The downside is that many students
think that Mat is all there is to Pilates. Since not
every exercise is for every person, a qualified teacher
will pre-screen to learn more about your body. If Matwork
is inappropriate, you should be directed into individual
training with a qualified professional on the Pilates
equipment to insure a safe and positive experience. Ideally
all participants should do Pilates Matwork and Equipment
training.
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Q.
What is the difference between using the Pilates equipment
and Matwork?
A. The
Pilates Matwork is actually the most difficult part
of the method, because you have to do all the work
to stabilize and support your body. The Pilates equipment,
Reformer, Cadillac, Chairs, & Barrels, place the
body in a non-weight bearing position, taking stress
and pressure off your joints while strengthening and
stretching the body. The equipment has spring tension
which works similarly to a muscle contraction helping
the body understand how to move correctly and efficiently.
Working with the Pilates equipment helps strengthen
the body to better support and use the right muscles
when doing Mat. If you have injuries, medical concerns,
or any doubts about your safe participation in "group" Pilates
classes, it would be best to begin with individual
training and use of the equipment to ensure your safe
participation and help you get the most benefit possible
from working out with the Pilates system. Ideally,
all participants should do both Mat and equipment work
during their Pilates workouts.
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Q.
What is the difference between Pilates & Yoga?
A. There
are many different forms of Yoga, so it's not really
a fair comparison. Both are systems for whole-body
health, and utilize mind, body and breath but from
there they are very different. Joseph Pilates developed
his system based on his study of both Eastern and Western
forms of exercise, so many Pilates exercises do look
similar to Yoga postures, but the thought process,
focus, and emphasis are not the same. If you were to
compare Pilates to Hatha Yoga, Pilates is movement
and Hatha Yoga Postures are still positions. Pilates
breathing emphasizes inhaling through the nose to filter
the air, and a strong exhale through the mouth to empty
as much air from the lungs as possible. Yoga breathing
is both in & out through the nose - in a more quiet,
contemplative manner. Hatha Yoga postures do not require
any special equipment, Pilates has a series of floor
work exercises, and apparatus that should be utilized
together as a system to facilitate strength and flexibility,
and teach students how to move the body correctly and
efficiently. During my years of teaching Pilates, I
have had many Yoga students (and Yoga teachers) comment
that the things they have learned about their body,
posture, movement, and support with Pilates has greatly
benefited their Yoga practice.
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Q.
What are the benefits of Pilates training?
A. The
benefits of Pilates Training are many! Pilates requires
complete control over mind-body-and movement. Every client
receives the benefits their body needs. This is achieved
through conscious effort to execute each exercise as
correctly as possible. Some clients see changes in how
their body looks and how their clothes fit, other clients
are no longer bothered by chronic aches and pains. Less
fatigue, more energy, improved seated and standing posture,
increased muscular strength with the development of longer,
leaner muscles, improved flexibility, increased body
awareness, improved breathing and breath control, improved
mental outlook, improved concentration & focus, more
efficient movement habits to benefit daily life activities,
rehabilitation of soft tissue injury, reduced chance
of injury or re-injury, and the ability to move with
grace & ease. The Pilates system takes the stress
off your joints while enjoying a fun and efficient total
body workout.
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Q.
I am healthy and fit, why should I add Pilates to my
workout program?
A. Why
not get maximum results from your fitness program.
The Pilates principles apply to everything you do to
move your body. Becoming aware of your strengths, weaknesses,
and muscle imbalances, can help you be more conscious
in all of your fitness activities to work correctly
and efficiently. The benefits you gain from "tweaking" your
body mechanics, getting your muscles to work in the
correct order, and using the most efficient muscles
during each exercise should transfer to all of the
other forms of exercise you participate in. This means
Pilates can help you get more benefits from every different
activity you enjoy for exercise.
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Q.
I have health issues that limit my participation in regular
exercise programs, can I do Pilates?
A. Most
definitely, Pilates could be an excellent option for
you. First, you should check with your physician and
get written approval to begin a program. If your doctor
or other health professionals (physical therapist, chiropractor…)
has any limitations, restrictions or guidelines that
they would like you to follow with your Pilates program,
it is important that your Pilates instructor have this
information prior to your initial session. It is also
important to discuss your health issues with the studio/instructor
before registering. It is important that you work with
a qualified Pilates teacher who is experienced with your
particular issues and is confident in their ability to
develop a safe & effective exercise program for you.
Since not every exercise is for every person, depending
on your current health status, it may be most appropriate
for you to begin in a one-on-one setting rather than
a group class.
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Q.
Why is Pilates so different than lifting weights for
strength training?
A. Both
Pilates and weight lifting improve muscle strength. The
Pilates exercises focus on strengthening the body from
the inside out. This is a part of why Pilates develops
longer, leaner muscles. Most of the Pilates exercises
place the body in a low to non-weight bearing position – taking
the stress off the body while developing both strength
and flexibility. The spring tension that you work against
with the Pilates equipment simulates muscle contraction
and elongation. Your muscles are working all the time
in both directions with every movement. Most weight lifting
exercises hold the spine in a still, neutral position.
Pilates emphasizes changing the spine position to facilitate
movement of each segment of the spine in all directions – bending
forwards, backwards, side bending, and twisting. This
emphasis helps to build balanced strength and flexibility
throughout the whole torso. Pilates is also a low repetition
system – the goal is to do each exercise only a
few times as well as possible – reinforcing proper
movement habits and leaving muscles with the memory of
how to work correctly. If you are too fatigued to use
the right muscles and attempt more reps your chance of
recruiting the wrong muscles is very high – and
injury may result. Pilates is an excellent tool for improving
your results in the weight room if weight lifting is
an activity you enjoy. You will gain the added benefit
of improved mobility with great strength.
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Q.
How many days a week should I do Pilates?
A. Ideally
you should participate in Pilates 2-4 days a week. Since
the Pilates system is a combination of strength & flexibility
training, your body needs the practice and reinforcement
of skills you are learning. It is best to begin with
one-on-one sessions with the Pilates equipment to identify
assist in quickly improving your body. Group Matwork
classes can be a fun and economical way to learn the
Pilates floor work exercises. For the best results your
program should include both Mat and equipment training
2-4 days per week.
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Q.
What if my schedule won’t allow me to participate
at least 2 days a week?
A. One
day a week is not ideal, the changes in your body happen
so slowly with one hour to learn and six days and twenty-three
hours to forget, progress at this pace may be frustrating.
If your schedule will not permit you to be in class or
private sessions a minimum of 2 days a week – it
is important that you request a home program. If you
are willing to practice some of what you are learning
at home between sessions you will be reinforcing the
new habits you are establishing with your Pilates training
and it will be easier to progress more quickly.
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Q.
How quickly will I see results from my Pilates training?
A. Most
students begin to notice changes after their first session!
The focus and attention to detail that is a part of learning
Pilates helps your efficiency in getting results. Joseph
Pilates said, “You’ll feel better after 10
sessions, look better after 20, and have a whole new
body after 30 sessions.”
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