Joseph Pilates created his method for everybody. He believed everyone could do Pilates. Pilates is a practice that means mistakes will be made. The wonderful thing about Pilates as a workout method is that you learn from your mistakes to become better at Pilates. Pilates is a non judgement zone. That means there is no judgment to the body from the Pilates teacher or the Pilates practitioner. There is no right or wrong, it is as Joseph Pilates created it. Pilates was created to move each individual body to the range it was designed to move.

Why do we hear so much about the perfect Teaser or Swan? That your legs need to be like this, your position exactly here. There is also that moment where during Pilates you may look at someone else doing the same move and think “mine isn’t as good” or “I am not doing it right”. Want to know what Joseph Pilates really thought about all that?

I would like to think he didn’t think about it as he was teaching the body in front of him at that moment. It didn’t matter what another client had done, or how it had looked as this was a new body, different body, and different mind. Joseph Pilates was teaching that person. No one else. There was no comparing, no right or wrong but a lot of “figuring it out”. Seeing how this person moved for themselves.

When we first start Pilates it is about learning the choreography and the apparatus. Figuring out what we need to do at that moment to move to get to point b then maybe c and so on. If you look back at that first session for a client it is messy. It is not beautiful, graceful movements but can feel and look out of control or not right. This is when that nonjudgment needs to kick in. That negative chatter has to go away and be replaced with how do I? What do I need to do? Where can I take this?

It is time to explore what movement and range you can go with and feel the feedback of the spring and the guidance of the teacher. The teacher is there as well in a non judgement way to just see what they can do to follow your lead, keep you safe, motivate you, and challenge you but, also let you figure out things as you go.

The Pilates studio and your Pilates practice should be that space you enter and all the worry, anxiety, stress, and judging self-talk is left at the door. This is your time to practice and get stronger not only in your body and movement but in your mind as well.

Pilates is often thought by some to be for women, for dancers, or something to make you flexible. That is not what Joseph Pilates created when he thought up his method which he called “Contrology”. He had his mat work and then his apparatus to help the Pilates practitioner become stronger and better AT their mat work. Which is the hardest of the work in Pilates. Mat is just you and gravity. Figuring it out. The mat is the foundation of the Pilates work.

Pilates is not about becoming more flexible or graceful or looking perfect but, about becoming more mobile and stronger. So that whatever you do in life you are able to prevent injury or better yet just keep doing what you love in the outside world.

Joseph Pilates created his method as an exercise regiment. It is a full-body workout, with each exercise, and every move the full body being engaged to work, move, and stabilize. The body is moved in all directions with flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation. If you think of these moves each individual person has a different body and build. They move differently and life has created different movement patterns for each of us.

Pilates is the one place where it doesn’t matter what your movement is or isn’t, what your body type is, how tall or small, your body shape, or any issues you may have due to pain or injury. The work caters to you, the individual, and builds with you on your time and capabilities. That is why

Not only is there no judgment in your Pilates workout but, there is no comparison to others. Everyone has their own Teaser or Swan. Pilates lets you shine with your own unique individual style of movement. Getting stronger and more connected to move better for you and your needs. Seeing your own progress and going where you want to for your health, movement, and body.

Why would we want to judge that? The outside world already has so many preconceived ideas of who we are when we step outside each morning. In the Pilates studio, there are no preconceived ideas about anyone. The wonderful thing is every time you enter the studio or your Pilates practice you and the Pilates teacher are discovering new things, new patterns or old patterns of movement to guide and work around.

Pilates is no judgment because there is no right or wrong and it is always changing the more you practice Pilates and the more you do it! Pilates changes with you as you go through life and the years go on.

Next time you are in that Pilates session and you start to think “oh, no! What did I do? why?” turn it around and think “wow! That was different! how was it different? What do I need to do to get where I want in this moment”. This is that learning moment that makes you stronger and more challenged as you continue the nonjudgment road of your Pilates practice.