Interview excerpt with Elizabeth Ourania Tsoureka on www.monopoli.gr

When we say "authentic Pilates," what do we mean?

Authentic or classical Pilates is not just floor exercises, as everyone thinks. Let's start from the beginning. The first students of J.P. are called 1st generation teachers (Romana Kryzanowska, Jay Grimes, Kathy Grant, Lolita San Miguel, etc.). Beyond the extensive archive of photos, videos, and notes he left behind, these individuals continued the classical method with training programs of over 500 hours, honoring all the basic principles and concepts of the method and using all the Pilates apparatus I mentioned. Over the years, beyond the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation classical Pilates teachers, since Pilates was considered a generic term by law, and diplomas around the world have no validity, nor is a license required, many programs appeared and continue to be created by people who are not part of the chain and either consciously chose, for business reasons, to differentiate and radically change the exercises (which they might not have known themselves), or to invent similar apparatus and, in the end, change the method.

So why, then, if this new type of exercise that was created differs so much in application and means, do they continue to call it Pilates and not something else?

The answer is simple. Because it sells. New types of exercise constantly emerge and are forgotten after a while, but the benefits of Pilates have been known for many decades now for both physical and mental health. It is no coincidence that all major athletes and people who can afford to try various types of exercise consistently choose Pilates.

And here I should mention that, apart from the entrepreneurs who organize training sessions, there are also those who train in cheap, quick three-month courses or even weekend seminars, or those who learn a repertoire of only floor exercises or the reformer, and maybe one or two more apparatus and call themselves "experts" of the method. Especially in recent years, mainly in Greece, many trainers, dancers, physiotherapists turned to such quick programs as they saw that people are increasingly asking for Pilates, and lately many claim they are doing classical Pilates after attending seminars.

So, there are no types of Pilates? What is reformer Pilates or Pilates mat that we hear or read about on the internet?

Just as "Mat Pilates" (floor exercises) used to be advertised, now we often hear the phrase "Reformer Pilates has the most immediate results." This was invented by fitness companies that, at the specific time, try to convince that the reformer is the best type of Pilates.

We should say, though, that Reformer Pilates is not a type of Pilates, just as mat is not. It has become a popular trend, a fashion in fitness. However, Pilates does not go with the "trends of the times." Many trainers are trained, as I mentioned earlier, in fast-track programs only on the reformer, just as they used to be trained only on the mat, and many companies put reformers in their spaces as an economical and smart solution for them. Just as a good Pilates teacher who loves their job knows that the proper training is done in combination with the use of multiple Pilates apparatus and mat, similarly, a proper professional space should be equipped with as many apparatus as possible.

Speaking of equipment, tell us a little more about Pilates equipment.

Worldwide, there are no more than ten factories making authentic copies of Pilates apparatus, manufacturing all Pilates machines. The correct dimensions, careful construction aimed at the safety of the practitioner, and the tension of the springs, which is the basic element of Pilates machines, play a decisive role in the information the body receives. Of course, the cost of these machines can be triple those found in the Greek market. The reformer, for example, as J.P. had it, has 4 identical springs, and the foot bar does not lock nor change position, as this facilitates the flow of exercises, concentration, and the body to acquire posture memory based on distances. Over the years, many physiotherapists or those who wanted to approach a specific audience chose to use apparatus adapted within the framework of therapy with less resistance, different exercises, and other dimensions.

Here, I should mention that last year the owner of the most famous company manufacturing (mainly now modern) Pilates apparatus was asked why over the years he started selling apparatus with completely different dimensions and tensions. He answered honestly that as a businessman, he made custom orders with more elegant construction and other features adapted to the needs of these clients, but he himself prefers more classical apparatus.

In your field, it has been said that classical Pilates is outdated. What is your opinion on this?

There are those who say it is outdated and that science has progressed and many exercises should not be taught, which is why they changed them, and that it is not possible to do the same exercises in the same sequence as they were done so many years ago. Firstly, let me say that none of these people have been taught classical Pilates. Additionally, if we conduct a survey, we will see that many, after a contemporary Pilates training, choose a classical training to delve deeper into the method. You will never see the opposite! I would like to say that many masters of classical Pilates are physiotherapists with knowledge of anatomy and pathology and are themselves impressed with how advanced J.P. was for his time. For example, in the reformer, which is considered a closed circuit as it keeps the body aligned, the repertoire always starts with a series of exercises that reveal in combination with the teacher's touch how a person walks and stands. The basic imbalances of the body are revealed.

Also, classical teachers take additional classical seminars to have a more insightful view of the practitioner's body. Even J.P. himself, if one searches the internet, taught the same exercise differently depending on the body and the student's level, so he might remove or add exercises or give variations. As for the sequence of exercises, it is important where it exists, as I mentioned earlier, the previous exercise intelligently prepares the body for the next.

So what are the benefits of the method? Why should someone start Pilates?

Doing Pilates gradually awakens all the muscles, and we learn to use them correctly and with control without straining the joints. We gain strength, flexibility, and increased spinal mobility. We improve the perception of how we move our body, eliminating wrong movement patterns while simultaneously changing our overall posture. I would like to say that many masters of classical Pilates are physiotherapists with knowledge of anatomy and pathology and are themselves impressed with how advanced J.P. was for his time. For example, in the reformer, which is considered a closed circuit as it keeps the body aligned, the repertoire always starts with a series of exercises that reveal in combination with the teacher's touch how a person walks and stands. The basic imbalances of the body are revealed.

Also, classical teachers take additional classical seminars to have a more insightful view of the practitioner's body. Even J.P. himself, if one searches the internet, taught the same exercise differently depending on the body and the student's level, so he might remove or add exercises or give variations. As for the sequence of exercises, it is important where it exists, as I mentioned earlier, the previous exercise intelligently prepares the body for the next.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start Pilates?

I would advise them, based on what I mentioned above, to first find out about the teacher's educational experience, what generation of teacher they are, and if they continue to take lessons and seminars with other teachers. They should aim to do Pilates in a place equipped with as many apparatus as possible to see faster results and prefer the smallest possible group since corrections are required for each student as these are not simple exercises. The teacher, with proper guidance, should give verbal cues according to the goal of the exercise, and I don't mean "pull in the stomach," "drop the shoulders." They should have a keen eye and adapt the exercises to the individual needs of each student. They should use their hands to position the body to achieve the best alignment and balance (spotting or hands-on), and if necessary, they should be able to perform an exercise they are teaching. Also, the most favorite Pilates exercises that are the heart of the method: roll-up, teaser, the hundred, footwork. If they do not know these exercises, then they are certainly not doing the comprehensive method.

Finally, I would like to say that the reason we are somewhat lying down at the initial levels of Pilates is not because it is relaxing, but because we want the body to receive the information of alignment, to have a restructuring of the spine, and over time, thanks to muscle memory and our new skills, to understand in an upright position how we should stand, walk, work, live, and do other sports without strain.