Part 1: Where
Over the past ten to fifteen year Pilates has exploded onto the main stage of body conditioning, injury rehabilitation, health and well-being and cross training for sports and arts participants. The benefits of doing regular Pilates have been spread far and wide ? from core strengthening to back care, to all manner of claims to support the method ? the amazing effects of Pilates are on everyone?s lips. And true.
What is often neglected and yet so crucial to achieving the positive outcomes of doing Pilates is HOW it is done. There are so many and varied ways to undertake the Pilates method and they have very different applications. Get the right fit and you will have great outcomes. Do it in a way that isn?t right for your needs and the effects can be less than pleasing.
Here are some tips for finding the most appropriate way to undertake Pilates so that you can feel as fantastic, healthy, conditioned and addicted to it as the long list of celebrities that swear by this method.
Firstly, where should you go? Options include a range of venues that can be generally accepted to offer these styles of work:
Studio ? at a specialist Pilates Studio you will work in private or small group sessions on a range of Pilates apparatus and Matwork. A Studio will offer specialist Pilates training to meet the needs of most people using all the Pilates repertoire 
and apparatus to achieve conditioning, corrective, rehab and elite training outcomes. Instructors are comprehensively qualified (Diploma minimum).
Clinic ? generally run by physiotherapist or allied health practitioners you will do a clinical application of Pilates that may be mat or apparatus work, often selected exercises alongside physical therapy applications. Clinical Pilates will be tailored more to therapy protocols and acute rehabilitation, and not necessarily offer long term progress or strengthening options. For someone wanting pure conditioning that isn?t injured, often the clinical form of Pilates will not achieve the results they are after.
Gym or Fitness Centre ? here you will find group fitness Pilates done either on Mats (Matwork) or on modified Fitness Pilates Reformers. In a fitness centre setting, Pilates is limited to a generalized group fitness approach that is safe for doing in large groups and will be a fitness-based application that won?t be tailored to individuals. This can be great for general conditioning, learning the concepts of the work and getting a Pilates-based workout, but will be early level work and not the most appropriate environment for specific back or neck care, or to rehabilitate injuries or health conditions.
Hall or Community Centre ? here you will do Matwork in a local community venue. A community centre will generally be similar to the group style approach of a fitness centre, although often the groups are smaller and progress can be made according to the participants involved, who are often enrolled for a set ?term? of classes and therefore can be progressed accordingly.
Importantly, when deciding where to sign up for Pilates sessions, pick an option that will give you the application needed for your own goals. All of these options listed above are great ways to do the Pilates method, so long as you can match your goals to the type of training approach being offered.
There are many variables involved in getting the best Pilates application to suit your needs. Join me for Part 2 where I will offer you tips on HOW to choose the Pilates approach that will give you the results you want.
As Joseph Pilates said, “Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.?
