Pilates for the People

What do Pilates and Karate have in common? Both words rhyme with each other. Both involve mastery over your body movements. Both require stretching. Other than that, not much else. Pilates is for everyone, not just Mr Miyagi or Daniel-san.

Reinforcing that basis of inclusiveness, the instructor for my class was a very apparently expecting mom. Probably having noticed my mouth gaping unconsciously in disbelief and wonderment, she boasted: “I was doing Pilates up until the day before giving birth during my last pregnancy”.

At this exploratory session, we were introduced to two implements – the MOTR and the Bodhi suspension system.

The MOTR (MOre Than a Roller), is an exercise apparatus which resembles a jackhammer, and can be used in a similar orientation for certain exercises. It consists of a padded stem, two shoulder-width bars that protrude from both sides on one end and two resistance cables with loops to secure your hands or feet. Working with this piece of equipment makes possible workouts that improve flexibility, strengthens your core, challenges your balance and enables proper body alignment.

The Bodhi suspension system, resembles the thin cascading tendrils that are the aerial roots of the Banyan tree, especially when there are multiple sets installed in a classroom. Again, this tool helps with core strength, flexibility, flexibility and emphasizes body alignment.

A resistance that dials up to nine pounds? Balance and flexibility? The machismo and rock climber in me stifled a snigger. As the class proceeded, the strain in my limbs started to wear me down. I was struggling to maintain balance and control my movements. My limbs shivered and quivered as the moved the “paltry” weights.

At times, I felt like a baby gazelle, just emerged and struggling with awkward movements to gain control with my body. The precision of movement and breathing coordination were a real but novel challenge in the gym for me. There was no pain, but the deep satisfying aches in my muscles the next few days attest to the gain. I definitely emerged from the gym with firmer buttocks and tighter thighs as promised.

MB4 Pilates, as I was to learn, is above all, about control of movement and about a starting point, the centre of which is reason for the emphasis on core muscles. Concentration is vital to maintain control over your every action. This was my very first Pilates class, and I have never before gone for anything similar.

What I liked about Pilates was the focus on body alignment. For me, lying supine on the thick padded shaft of the MOTR was very relaxing and it made my spine more comfortable in the way it guided me into the proper posture. I felt I have loosened the discs of my vertebrae which were compressed over long hours in the office chair. It especially helped limber up my tense shoulder area. The class was a manageable two hours long and freshened me up rather than run me ragged. It piqued my interest in a second.