Do I need to be flexible to do Pilates?

No.  In fact, Pilates improves flexibility, so people with tight muscles benefit greatly from it.

If you are already flexible, you can still benefit from Pilates because it offers balance.  While you will maintain or even improve your flexibility, you will improve in strength and control.  Oftentimes 'loose-jointedness' is accompanied by an inability to control movement.  Muscle strengthening and better body awareness will help to stabilize your joints, warding against injuries and wear-and-tear.

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Is Pilates like yoga?

Some Pilates exercises were inspired by yoga poses and resemble them.  They differ in that Pilates is about movement and being in one's body, whereas yoga is typically about stillness and meditation. Both reduce mental fatigue.  Both improve breathing.  Both improve flexibility.  Pilates, in addition, builds strength and offers potential cardiovascular benefits.  Pilates also streamlines your figure, something you may or may not get with yoga.

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Why "Authentic Pilates"?

When New York-based Pilates, Inc. lost the trademark in the United States for the word "Pilates," anyone could teach exercise and call it "Pilates".  The phrase "Authentic Pilates" was then coined to refer to the unadulterated exercise system, developed by Joseph Pilates and passed down to Romana Kryzanowska.  All certified Authentic Pilates instructors must first understand the exercises for themselves, then go through at least 600 hours of hands-on training, and pass a test administered only by Master Teachers Romana and her daughter Sari.  Sean Gallagher of Pilates, Inc. insists on the  in this Philippine-based website.

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