What To Do When Pilates Is Not Working

Picture this - you have a new client - hooray! It’s their first session. When they arrive it becomes clear very quickly they are just not ready for Pilates especially if you are limited to teaching mat work.

When I say “limited” I do not mean to upset anyone, my point is that mat work is the most challenging aspect of Pilates (in my opinion) as you have no assistance from springs or pulleys.

Every day we meet new clients - they have either signed up or are asking about the technique. When eventually they take the plunge and book their first session - even though they are fit and healthy they may be surprised to find that even the basic, modified repertoire is extremely challenging for their body type.

When clients attend your Pilates sessions for the first time it is always a bit of an exploration, both for you and them. When they choose a group session it can be difficult for you to address their personal needs as quickly or specifically as you want; for them, trying to cope with these new exercises may not only be challenging but create a sense of failure in a person who is maybe used to moving well. The result can be frustrating for both of you.

Clients carry around with them a lifetime of movement patterns that effect their posture, whether its a sport they prefer or just the job they have they are literally wearing their life in their body.

In a group setting the best you can hope for is that they will hear your instructions to vary the exercises to accommodate their individual postural needs so that over time small changes will occur to gradually bring about change which will allow them to perform Pilates movements with more ease and fluidity.

Group Pilates is a great way to experience the technique when the participants have no serious issues, where general modifications allow them to participate and enjoy the session. For those clients who have a specific need where posture is extremely out of balance individual tuition will be most effective.

Clients who are affected by excessive lack of flexibility and mobility in particular find even the most basic start position for some Pilates movements impossible. Sitting upright on a mat can prove exhausting, even painful for some people. Of course allowing them to use a stability ball or chair for those exercises will assist them but it will be more efficient and allow for quicker progress if you add specific stretches and release techniques to their programme.

People who are inflexible and, or lack mobility often carry a lot of tension in their body, teaching them to let go when appropriate and helping them understand where a movement starts can be helpful. Many clients who suffer with lack of flexibility use the very muscles that are overworked and short to carry out movement. It is as though they “hinge” and propel their way through movement rather that activate the larger muscles before the smaller ones, which would enable them to move more smoothly and with less unnecessary tension.

As their teacher you might start their road to improvement by actually leaving out some of the exercises that exacerbate their existing issues - something that is difficult to manage well in a group session.

Common Problem Areas

• Neck & shoulders
• Mid-Back
• Chest
• Hips & Hip Flexors
• Low Back
• Hamstrings

Basic Stretching is not always the answer, many people think that more is better when stretching. Because they know they lack flexibility they assume that stretching will and possibly should hurt. Many people left to their own devices will stretch with poor technique, at best not creating a positive result at worst straining their already stiff muscles.

There are several types of stretching:

• Ballistic & Static Stretching
• Passive & Active Stretching
• PNF or Facilitated Stretching

In a personal training environment you can spend time during the session instructing your client how to stretch effectively, taking time to encourage them to feel their initial sensation of stretch then allowing the muscle to react and ease its way to improved flexibility.

Of course your client will need to stretch in between sessions particularly if they only attend once a week or have other fitness programmes that effect their flexibility.

I recommend Bob Anderson’s book Stretching, ISBN 0-936070-22-6 it's an all round reference with clear instructions.

I know we hear how working with Pilates will create a more flexible, strong, mobile, stable and well balanced body, however most of our clients are not dedicated sports people or professional dancers, there Pilates workout is a small part of their overall activities consequently they will need some specific assistance to address their postural issues.

Regular Pilates practice will of course improve and help to maintain their newly found flexibility and mobility.

Nuala

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