Classical vs. Contemporary Pilates
Pilates has been around since the early 20th century, and it's only getting more popular. When we think of Pilates, we often think of a certain kind of exercise: the kind that involves a lot of stretching, and bending, and holding challenging positions. But what you may not know is that there are two kinds of Pilates—contemporary and classical—and each has its own benefits.
Contemporary and Classical Pilates are both beneficial and can help you gain more control over your body. The method you use can help you understand your body better, progress more effectively, feel more confident in your body, and even gain more control over your body. But is one better than the other? What do we teach at Fuse Pilates?
What is Classical Pilates?
Joseph Pilates created his method in the early 20th century based on the principles of control, concentration and precision. His original Pilates method is a form of exercise that focuses on developing strength, flexibility and endurance through specific exercises. To this day, classical Pilates emphasizes slow and controlled movements that center around the core, including breathing techniques and lots of stretching. This method is great for beginners who want to improve their flexibility and build up strength through controlled movements.
What is Contemporary Pilates?
Contemporary Pilates is a more fluid method of movement, more about the quality of the movement than the quantity. The exercises are typically more challenging with an enhanced focus on the mind body connection. Contemporary Pilates classes can be faster-paced than classical, with more focus on the core—and it includes some new exercises that Joseph Pilates himself didn't create.
It is also more inclusive of today's exercise science - where the overwhelming philosophy reinforces quality over quantity when it comes to movement. This allows you to gain more control over your body, feel more confident in your body, and progress more effectively than if you were just doing traditional exercises like crunches or squats.
At Fuse Pilates we teach Contemporary Pilates because we believe this modern method is how we can best serve the DC population by helping people understand their bodies better, progress faster, and feel more confident in themselves.
Why does the method matter?
The question of which type of Pilates is best is one that has been debated for decades. The truth is, both contemporary and classical forms have their benefits, and what works for you will depend on your goals and your body.
Contemporary Pilates uses a more dynamic approach to exercise. It incorporates more movement from the joints and muscles, so it's a good option if you want to build strength, flexibility, or a combination of both. This method can also help you understand your body better because it focuses on how each part moves during an exercise.
Classical Pilates uses a slower-paced approach to movement and focuses on using deep core muscles in order to achieve results. This method could be better suited for people who are looking for stability rather than mobility—it's all about developing strength without compromising the spine or other joints.
Ultimately, it's important to remember that there's no right or wrong way to do Pilates exercises—just what works best for your body!
Knowing how the method you're practicing came about can help you understand your body better and progress more effectively!
In conclusion, the two methods are similar in some ways and different in others, but both have their benefits. It's really all about the quality of movement rather than how much you do or don't do—and it's not just about getting a flat tummy or toned arms (though those things typically come as a bonus).
In your next class, make sure you stop and ask your instructor about their personal teaching style and what method they learned first!