Exercise Physiology or Pilates: Find out which one’s right for you!

What’s the benefit of choosing an exercise physiologist, physiotherapist, or osteopath over a general Pilates instructor for your exercise programme?

Here’s why: The benefit of working with an Exercise Physiologist (or other health professional) lies in their specific knowledge and ability to tailor exercises to individual needs.

While Pilates instructors are trained in the use and implementation of Pilates exercises, including the Pilates form and its various versions, this doesn’t necessarily mean they can always tailor the exercises to meet your unique needs, issues, or injuries. 

The advantage of an Exercise Physiologist

Exercise Physiologists, Physiotherapists, and Osteopaths undergo extensive university training, both theoretical and clinical, in exercise prescription and injury management. Therefore, they are equipped to design and implement programmes tailored to:

• Specific needs and goals
• Injuries and issues
• Complex scenarios that require individual attention

As a result, with a more specific programme, you can expect faster and more targeted results, aligned with your individual goals.

Pilates is a powerful tool for both instructors and Exercise Physiologists 

Pilates exercises and equipment, such as reformers, are excellent tools for working on the deep stabilising muscles of the body, including:

• Core stabilisers around your back and abdominal muscles
• Deep stabilisers around your hips and pelvis
• Upper body stabilising muscles around your shoulder blades

I’ve personally used Pilates reformers for over 20 years and have found that they are one of the most versatile pieces of training equipment I have ever used. Even now, I discover new ways to use the reformer to diversify exercise programmes for my clients.

However, it’s important to note that it’s the choice of Pilates exercises that makes the biggest difference in outcomes and achieving client’s goals. A Pilates exercise might be highly effective for one person but not particularly helpful for another. Hence, an Exercise Physiologist or health professional designing your Pilates programme adds significant value through the specificity of exercises and outcomes.

Your exercise programme doesn’t have to be limited to Pilates exercises

Pilates exercises and equipment are excellent for building foundational strength, core stability, and hip and pelvic control. For many years, teaching Clinical Pilates to clients, I thought that was sufficient.

However, over time, I noticed that clients would plateau and stop progressing towards their further goals. Why is this?

I found that Pilates alone wasn’t enough.

Thus, once you’ve built your core stability and foundational strength, adding in classic strength and conditioning exercises such as deadlifts, bench press and squats can enhance your progress. In other words, it’s not about choosing between Pilates OR classic strength and conditioning. Instead, it’s about combining:

Pilates AND classic strength and conditioning.

This combination is where I truly started seeing clients achieve their inspirational goals, surpassing their initial expectations and getting the most out of life.