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Clinical Pilates Vs Regular Pilates – What’s the difference?

With the huge explosion in popularity for Pilates worldwide, there seems to be new studios regularly popping up on every corner. The same can be said for our local Lane Cove area, with locals spoilt for choice when it comes to the variety of Pilates classes on offer.

Whether classes are offered as part of a gym membership, in a local community space, or in a purpose built studio, there is a class for everyone – but what is the difference between these classes, and which is best for you?

Essentially it depends on what you’re trying to get out of Pilates. If you’re fit and healthy, and are happy to work in larger groups with minimal individual instruction, then a gym solution may be fine. If however you are new to Pilates, or have any specific imbalances or past / current injuries, then a more tailored program with a small teacher to student ratio is recommended.

You may also hear people use the term “clinical Pilates”, which is often run by Physiotherapists, and other highly qualified trainers. This is the sort of Pilates that we offer here at Pilates Connection, where we also hold the highest level of Pilates training certification as a member of the professional body, The Pilates Alliance of Australasia. Whilst we don’t diagnose injuries or conditions, we do work alongside many healthcare professionals to develop injury management and rehabilitation programs for the individual.

Ongoing staff training and development is key to our success here at Pilates Connection. One of our core instructors, Larissa is a trained Physiotherapist, whilst Owner and Instructor Liane is a fully qualified Pilates Instructor and a certified Structural Integration Practitioner. This may give you a better understanding as to why we’re continually analysing movement patterns and restrictions before prescribing exercises to address any recognised imbalances or specific conditions or pathologies.

Here’s a quick look at the core differences between Clinical Pilates and Regular Pilates (larger group classes on the mat or reformer):

The Power of Pilates – Philip’s Story

Today, we’d love to introduce you to the most senior member of Pilates Connection – 95 year old Philip from Greenwich. He’s still working from an office here in Lane Cove, and enjoys flying seaplanes in his spare time. Philip’s family encouraged him to come to Pilates as a way to gain more core strength, stability, and greater mobility, which is ever so important as we get older.

We hope you enjoy, and are inspired by Philip’s story – he’s a man of very few words (but still has a sharp sense of humour!)

Pilates Connection Member – Philip, 95 yrs young from Greenwich

What were your main reasons for starting Pilates?

It was Philip’s adult children that encouraged him to give Pilates a try. They wanted him to be able to maintain and improve his fitness, mobility and stability.

Philip also confesses to having a “dodgy right knee” and a rather “wonky left shoulder” which we’re working on.

How long have you been doing Pilates?

Since May 2018.

What made you choose Pilates Connection?

Ask Philip – and he says “It’s because it’s downhill from my office”, however his family wanted a personalised program where Philip could be supervised one on one, with professional and highly trained instructors that know and understand his short and long term goals.

How has Pilates helped you?

Yes, they have made me “fit as a fiddle”! From a studio perspective, we’ve worked hard on his core strength to improve stability, and also his muscle strength and join mobility. We’ve been thrilled with Philip’s progress so far – he’s a true inspiration!

What’s your favourite exercise or piece of equipment?

The Cadillac !

Here’s the links to our other Member’s stories:

The Power of Pilates – Jane’s Story

We hope you all enjoyed a well earned break over Christmas, and we’re delighted to share the first of our Power of Pilates member stories for 2019.

Today we’d like you meet Jane, who came to Pilates Connection back in 2017 after realising her body and muscle tone was starting to go downhill, with work commitments leaving her fatigued and time poor. Ongoing knee problems were making most forms of exercise difficult for Jane – here’s her story …..

Pilates Connection Member – Jane from Lane Cove

What were your main reasons for starting Pilates?

My ongoing knee problems made most forms of exercise almost impossible. I recognised that my body was not working well and work commitments were leaving me very tired with little time to exercise.

I could see that I was losing muscle tone and body function and I felt like my skeleton and joints were taking too much pressure – it was all spiralling in a downwards fashion !

How long have you been doing Pilates?

I’ve been doing classes at Pilates Connection since September 2017.

What do you think about the instructors at Pilates Connection?

I have found the unique ratio of instructor to client a most rewarding, efficient and relaxing form of exercise. The focus required during each Pilates session means that they speed by and I leave feeling relaxed, energised and stretched out.

The instructors will often give me homework and I find this sense of shared responsibility between the instructor and myself very encouraging. I love coming to Pilates.

I enjoy the fact that the instructors are treating me as more than my injury. Whilst tailoring and modifying exercise where necessary to accommodate my knee issues, they also manage to work the rest of my body rather hard, so I leave each session feeling like I’ve worked my whole body.

How has Pilates helped you?

I have travelled through two phases so far. Firstly, my Pilates instructors needed to assess my strengths and weaknesses and identify problem areas. I see phase one as me having gained a new insight into my knee weakness and the imbalance in the muscles around my knees.

And I see phase two as me understanding my body better and appreciating that If I did not take action soon to address my muscular and neural pathway weaknesses , I would very soon have new problems beyond my sore knees.

I am currently in a phase where I continue to build strength to assist with my troubled knee joints, as well as building on my overall body strength.

What’s your favourite exercise or piece of equipment?

I find the range of exercise on offer for each specific muscle groups quite amazing. I particularly enjoy the Trapeze Table and the Reformer, although for me, the full combination of floor work and all the equipment make this studio special.

Here’s the links to our other Member’s stories:

The Power of Pilates – Tom’s Story

As many of you already know, we have all sorts of people training with us here in the Pilates Connection Studio – young, old, athletes, those recovering from surgery, and everyone in between. The fact we have small class sizes means we can tailor a specific routine for each and every one of you.

Today we’d like you to meet our youngest member, Tom, who is in his late teens, still at school, and is a highly motivated athletics star! After suffering a hamstring tear earlier this year, Tom has started regular Pilates with us to help with rehabilitation, and to strengthen his body, trying to avoid future injury. Tom has a great attitude, and is busy preparing for next season’s track and field competitions, where he hopes to qualify for the Open Age Group in Long Jump (check out his current Long Jump rankings):

NSW Under 18’s # one.
NSW Under 20’s # two.
Nationals # 3

We are all super impressed with Tom’s achievements, and look forward to seeing him compete in the future! Here’s Tom’s story in our continuing “Power of Pilates” series, showcasing how Pilates is making a difference in the everyday lives of our members.

If you’d like to share your story with our Pilates community, please see Liane when you’re next in the studio!

Pilates Connection Member – Tom from Lane Cove (late teens)

Tom training on the Reformer

What were your main reasons for starting Pilates?

A hamstring tear. Suffering a grade 2 tear with a bit of tendon damage was devastating and it lightly disrupted the big off season training program I had planned in the lead up to the 18/19 season. Pilates come up as way to get back on the track quicker whilst hopefully preventing further injuries in the coming years.

How long have you been doing Pilates?

I started in April 2018, so about roughly 2 months.

How has Pilates helped you?

Definitely the activation of my glutes. A bit underdeveloped and not “firing” correctly before Pilates (a main reason for the hamstring tear), I could definitely see the benefits coming through after the first few weeks in the studio, the glutes becoming noticeably more responsive and powerful when on the track or in the gym.

What’s your favourite exercise or piece of equipment?

I absolutely love the reformer, mainly because of its versatility. You could be sweating it out doing an exercise for the pure purpose of strength or having a good stretch on it before or after your session. But saying that, most of the other pieces of equipment are similar and adaptable, but I just enjoy the reformer the most!

Here’s the links to our other Member’s stories:

The Power of Pilates – Gerald’s Story

Meet Gerald, Pilates devotee, who has been practicing since the 1990s! He’s been a Pilates Connection member for the past couple of years, and through hard work and great focus, Gerald has become quite the master of balance! Strong balance is such an asset as we age,
as poor balance can result in falls and tumbles, which tend to lead us down the slippery path of injured hips, knees and worse.

We are all super impressed with Gerald’s achievements, if not a just a little bit proud of him too! Here’s Gerald’s story in our continuing “Power of Pilates” series, showcasing how Pilates is making a difference in the everyday lives of our members.

If you’d like to share your story with our Pilates community, please see Liane when you’re next in the studio!

Pilates Connection Member – Gerald from Lower North Shore

What were your main reasons for starting Pilates?

To keep my body and muscles moving as I age, and to develop good core strength and balance.

How long have you been doing Pilates?

I have been attending classes at Pilates Connection since July 2015, when my daughter relinquished her Neutral Bay practice.Since 2009 – 8 years

What made you choose Pilates Connection?

I came to Pilates Connection on the recommendation of my daughter, Ingrid Shaw,
with whom I had taken Pilates classes intermittently from the 1990’s and regularly from the early 2000’s

How has Pilates helped you?

The biggest benefits from my Pilates classes are that it slows the ageing process and I remain fully mobile and not subject to continual stiffness and strains. When I have strained anything, e.g. my back, it is soon put to rights

What’s your favourite exercise or piece of equipment?

All of the equipment is well designed and it is difficult to single out any in particular,
but I am constant challenged by all the equipment which requires me to keep my balance and develop my core and other muscles.

Here’s the links to our other Member’s stories:

The Power of Pilates – Ran’s Story

Here’s the second installment of our “Power of Pilates” initiative, showcasing how Pilates is making a difference in the everyday lives of our members.

Our members come in all shapes, sizes and ages, and for a variety of reasons, each with their own unique story to tell. We hope you enjoy reading about the Pilates journey that unites us all together, and if you’d like to share your experience, please see Liane when you’re next in the studio!

Pilates Connection Member – Ran from Lane Cove (40 something)

What were your main reasons for starting Pilates?

I was having significant problems with my lower back which was preventing me from doing my sport and causing me a lot of pain.

How long have you been doing Pilates?

I’ve been doing it at Pilates Connection for the last 4 years.

What made you choose Pilates Connection?

The teachers are extremely good and I always leave feeling better than I did when I arrived at the class.

How has Pilates helped you?

My back and core are now a lot stronger and I only get pain on rare occasions. Pilates has also improved my overall strength and flexibility which is helping my sport

What’s your favourite exercise or piece of equipment?

Its difficult to pick one exercise I like the most, what I enjoy is that there seems to be an infinite number of different exercises, so you never get bored.