Pilates

[Selah]

I know a lot of people have a problem with yoga, but what is your opinion on Pilates? Pilates is a little different, as it has cardio in it as well as streching.

Thanks!

Selah

[CatherineM]

I think core training is a great idea. Strengthening my stomach and oblique muscles made it possible for me to start walking again after 8 years in a wheelchair. I had such a bad back injury that I wasn't able to stand up straight. I looked like my lower spine was a corkscrew. I didn't consider it to be a religion, although I felt very blessed by God to be able to stand up straight again.

[dustthouart]

There's no religion in Pilates. It's just like gymnastics or other pure athletic routines. There are no mantras or new age qualities.

Now of course, you may find an individual Pilates instructor who is into New Age stuff, just like your chemistry teacher may be into New Age stuff. But Pilates doesn't have anything intrinsically New Age about it.

I recommend it!

[Aloysius]

the only spiritually oriented stuff I found regarding pilates talked about having the mind and body be more in sync... there is nothing contrary to Christianity there, we are very much about the mind and body being more in sync. if I were a buddhist I'd probably be against it on those grounds, though

as with all exercise, of course, the cult of the body is to be avoided.

[Alycin]

[quote name='dustthouart' post='1549147' date='May 30 2008, 06:39 AM']There's no religion in Pilates. [size=4]It's just like gymnastics[/size] or other pure athletic routines. There are no mantras or new age qualities.

Now of course, you may find an individual Pilates instructor who is into New Age stuff, just like your chemistry teacher may be into New Age stuff. But Pilates doesn't have anything intrinsically New Age about it.

I recommend it! [/quote]

Gymnastics uses more yoga poses/stretches than that of either dance class or P.E.

[Deb]

I prefer to tap dance.

[Alycin]

[quote name='Deb' post='1549178' date='May 30 2008, 08:13 AM']I prefer to tap dance.[/quote]

I used to love tap dancing.

Edited May 30, 2008 by Alycin

[Winchester]

Pilates was invented by Pontius Pilate. That means it's evil.

[StColette]

[quote name='Winchester' post='1549246' date='May 30 2008, 09:48 AM']Pilates was invented by Pontius Pilate. That means it's evil.[/quote]

ROFL!

When I first read the title I thought it was about Pontius Pilate lol

[Archaeology cat]

I did Pilates when I was pregnant, and loved it, as it really helped my back, and helped to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Unfortunately the only Pilates classes around are for pregnant women, and since I'm no longer pregnant, I'll have to find something else.

[quote name='Winchester' post='1549246' date='May 30 2008, 02:48 PM']Pilates was invented by Pontius Pilate. That means it's evil.[/quote]

[CatherineM]

I highly recommend water aerobics.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='CatherineM' post='1549460' date='May 30 2008, 05:57 PM']I highly recommend water aerobics.[/quote]
They don't have that around me, either. Right now I'm looking at Tai Chi, but I know little about it.

[Selah]

Tai chi is a bit complicated. I tried it once, but it takes a lot of fancy footwork

[CatherineM]

I tried tai chi too, but kept falling down. Guess my body just isn't built for it. When I fall in the pool, the landing is softer.

[dustthouart]

Tai chi, like yoga, has inherent Eastern religion in it. If you're avoiding yoga for that reason, tai chi is the same deal.

FWIW, I don't think yoga or tai chi necessarily give the occult a claim on your life, if you use only the physical parts and your teacher does the same. But if you're against yoga, you should be against tai chi too.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='dustthouart' post='1550494' date='May 31 2008, 03:18 PM']Tai chi, like yoga, has inherent Eastern religion in it. If you're avoiding yoga for that reason, tai chi is the same deal.

FWIW, I don't think yoga or tai chi necessarily give the occult a claim on your life, if you use only the physical parts and your teacher does the same. But if you're against yoga, you should be against tai chi too.[/quote]
Tai chi, from what I understand, does agree with many elements of Taoism & Confucianism, but was not developed specifically as a form of worship or meditation (though it [i]can [/i]be used like that). The problem people have with yoga, from what I can see, not having done yoga, is that the ritual of it, or progression of poses, was designed specifically to elicit a certain spiritual state. I personally see nothing wrong with stretches that happen to be found in yoga (if I did I'd have to stop doing a lot of things, especially since I like to sit in the lotus position, purely because it's comfortable). So my point is that they are different, and one who is against yoga need not necessarily be against tai chi.

[PadrePioOfPietrelcino]

Pilates is a great workout, plus if I remember my History correctly... *forgot firstname* Pilates actually created the workout routines as a pisoner in a Nazi Concentration camp. He noticed that the one who died were the ones who were physically deteriating. He created a set of moves which helped him keep physically fit, and strong thus increasing his chances of survival. I do not remember if he survived however.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='PadrePioOfPietrelcino' post='1557236' date='Jun 4 2008, 10:01 AM']Pilates is a great workout, plus if I remember my History correctly... *forgot firstname* Pilates actually created the workout routines as a pisoner in a Nazi Concentration camp. He noticed that the one who died were the ones who were physically deteriating. He created a set of moves which helped him keep physically fit, and strong thus increasing his chances of survival. I do not remember if he survived however.[/quote]
His first name is Joseph, and it was actually an internment camp in England because he was a German National. [url="http://www.pilates.com/BBAPP/V/about/joseph-pilates.html"]http://www.pilates.com/BBAPP/V/about/joseph-pilates.html[/url]

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='MissScripture' post='1557747' date='Jun 4 2008, 08:14 PM']His first name is Joseph, and it was actually an internment camp in England because he was a German National. [url="http://www.pilates.com/BBAPP/V/about/joseph-pilates.html"]http://www.pilates.com/BBAPP/V/about/joseph-pilates.html[/url][/quote]
Wow, had no idea. Interesting.

[MissScripture]

I knew a tiny bit about him, being an exercise science major, we'd learned a little bit about him, but I thought that link was pretty cool, too. I just googled it and that came up! I did know that a lot of dancers used it, because it's really good for the core muscles. Ooh, I also know that it REALLY hurts if you have to go to an intermediate pilates class for your Community Fitness Methods class, and you've never done it before! But it was pretty fun. We rolled around on the exercise ball, a lot. It reminded me of being a little kid.