Q: I know arthritis is not the same as osteoporosis, but it does affect the joints. Would flexion and/or extension be limited for someone with arthritis? Perhaps should I suggest they take a Buff Bones class?

A: Arthritis is in fact different from osteoporosis. Osteoporosis means that bone...

Q: If someone comes to my class with a hip or a knee replacement, and I don't feel like I have all the knowledge to keep them safe, would it be unreasonable to ask for a doctor’s note before starting a Pilates program? I personally would suggest training with someone with more experience.

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Q: When I correct a beginner student, should I keep it basic and just gently build on getting them moving correctly?

A: What an excellent question! Here we go:

Not all beginners are the same.

Some people have never taken a Pilates class before but have plenty of experience with their bodies from...

Q: My question is about finding cues to activate the lower abdominals and the pelvic floor. For example, in “The Hundred”, using cues such as “belly button to spine” or “bring the sit bones together” can create excessive pelvic tilting and/or the rectus...

Pilates is all about control, don’t we know it.

In this video, I’ll talk about how co-contraction of agonist and antagonist around a joint makes your movement fluid and your joints stable.

Often we focus on the first part of the exercise, pulling on the bar or the strap, and then we...

Q: When I begin a class with breathing it sometimes feels more like a yoga or meditation session than preparing for movement. How do I get clients to leave the world outside behind and start to focus on the class? How can I help them stop the mind from wandering without sounding like a hippie...

Q: How do you explain what Pilates is? My first statement is “It's not yoga.” Then I say “Pilates teaches functional movement to help you get through your day. It strengthens your core and helps improve your posture.”

A: I like your answer. It's short and sweet and to the...

Pilates is different, don’t you know it. No matter how often I try to explain the method to a new student, it’s still difficult to get across, especially to someone who approaches Pilates with a fitness mindset. So naturally, I listen closely to students when they describe in their...

Have you ever wondered whether you should choose the flat back version of Short Box on the Reformer or Ladder Barrel or the round back version?

If you were trained classically, then you might do both, but if your approach is more contemporary or rehab oriented, you might be unsure of what’s...

Have you every wondered why you would choose one over the other? I'll try and give you some guidelines.

First of all, just by looking at the two apparatuses, the most obvious and visible differences between the two pieces are:

1. The barrel is round while the box on the Reformer is rectangular.
2. The...