Personalised vs General Pilates
A slight change in foot position. A shift in movement range. Slowing down and holding a position just a bit longer.
These small, thoughtful modifications—guided by a skilled health professional or Pilates instructor—can be the difference between achieving exactly what you want from a Pilates program or just turning up each week for your class and not getting results.
While everyone’s reasons for exercising differ, most people share the same goal: change. Whether it’s feeling stronger, moving better, reducing pain, or boosting endurance, a specific and personalised Pilates program is far more likely to deliver the results you’re after.
Here’s why!
It starts with a full body assessment
A personalised Pilates program begins with a thorough Full Body Assessment (FBA). Without it, creating an effective, tailored plan is almost impossible.
After teaching clinical Pilates for over 20 years, I’ve found that the FBA is the foundation of every successful program. This comprehensive evaluation helps your health professional—whether a physiotherapist, exercise physiologist, or osteopath—understand:
- Muscle strengths and weaknesses that influence movement and function
- Joint stability needs to ensure proper support during exercise
- Injuries or limitations that require attention to help you achieve your fitness goals
This detailed understanding allows for a very specific Pilates program that targets weak muscle groups, minimises injury risk, and maximises results—helping you reach your goals faster.
Personalised Pilates is about what you don’t do as much as what you do
Take the “Hundreds” exercise, for instance—a classic abdominal workout that involves sitting in a V-shape while moving the arms for about 100 repetitions. While effective for abdominal control and breathing, this is quite an advanced exercise that demands significant core strength. When done incorrectly, it puts a lot of pressure on the lower back, increasing the risk of injury.
In a group class, exercises are often chosen to suit the majority. However, what works for the group may not be the best choice for you.
For example, if your lower back needs more support, focusing first on stabilising muscles like the multifidus might be a better starting point than advanced abdominal exercises.
A personalised and specific clinical Pilates program allows your instructor to be very selective about which exercises they choose for you and which ones they leave out. This ensures your safety while delivering optimal long-term results.
Personalised Pilates allows easier progression of exercises
Starting a Pilates program is just the first step. As your body adapts, your routine must evolve to prevent plateaus and keep you challenged.
Doing the same program every week and session makes it easier to become familiar with the routine, but progress often stalls after 6-7 weeks. Regularly updating your program ensures that:
- Muscle loads are adjusted to reflect your improvements.
- New muscle groups and movements are targeted to meet your evolving needs.
- Emerging injuries are addressed quickly to keep you on track.
Structured re-assessments every 6-7 weeks are key to this process. They strike the perfect balance between challenging your body and protecting it from overuse or injury, ensuring you continue to see improvements over time.
Do you have any questions?
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