Frequently Asked Questions
What do I wear?
Comfortable clothes that you can move in and that will stay put. Long pants! The exercises put the body in various positions and you are working closely with an instructor. Make sure your clothes do not have zippers and leave watches and bracelets at home. All of these can scratch the apparatus.
The studio has a no barefoot policy for the hygiene of all sharing the apparatus. With that said, the socks you wear for Pilates should not be worn to Pilates. Your socks need to be put on once you have arrived in the studio and removed before you leave the studio. This ensures clean socks. You also need grip socks for safety. All socks fit slightly differently; you may need to try a few before you find the right fit.
Limit any makeup, bronzers and lotions. These mark the apparatus.
What is Classical Pilates? Why are there so many different types of Pilates?
The most important thing to understand about Pilates is that there are two distinct styles: Classical Pilates and Contemporary Pilates. When you encounter different approaches and techniques online or in studios, it’s essential to recognize that these variations largely depend on whether the practitioner is following the Classical or Contemporary Pilates tradition.
Classical Pilates is a rigorous, disciplined, and precise approach, demanding adherence to specific sequences and transitions that flow seamlessly. This structure ensures consistency, making the exercises predictable and enabling practitioners to build confidence and precision over time. Despite its strict framework, Classical Pilates allows for some adaptations to meet individual needs, integrating full-body movements and maintaining a balance between challenge and flexibility. Each exercise is performed in just the right amount to avoid overexertion and burnout, contributing to overall body strength and coordination.
On the other hand, Contemporary Pilates offers a more inconsistent and varied approach, often based on the instructor’s education and interpretation of Pilates. This means the quality and style of sessions vary widely, depending on the instructor’s abilities and training. Contemporary Pilates classes can range from Boot Camp-style sessions to physical Therapy-type sessions.
I am trained in both Contemporary and Classical Pilates. Initially, I trained in Contemporary Pilates but found it wasn’t yielding the results I sought. The more varied exercises and less challenging structure of Contemporary Pilates just weren’t doing anything for me. I searched for what felt missing in the Contemporary work. I tried really hard to make sense of Pilates through the Contemporary lens, but it just didn’t. I met my mentor and discovered Classical Pilates. It was then I realized that Classical Pilates had all the missing pieces that made the exercise method work. It had the foundational strength, functional movement, flexibility, and capability I was looking for.
Do you have the reformer?
Yes, but since Classical Pilates of Long Island is a Classical Pilates studio you will learn the entire system and work on all the apparatus. This means every session is a full apparatus session. At CPLI, I organize your education and practice of the method systematically. This means, we toggle through all the apparatus weekly. You will learn as much of the work on each apparatus that is appropriate and beneficial to your body.
How many times should I do Pilates a week?
Joseph Pilates said four times a week. A combination of: two in studio, instructional sessions, and home practice is how you can make the most of your Pilates practice and receive all its benefits. Students should strive for their Pilates practice to be equal parts in-studio instructional and home practice. I provide supplemental material and references so that you can easily practice Pilates at home every day of the week.
Is Pilates slow?
NO! Is language spoken slowly? No, but when you are first learning a language it goes slowly, it takes a while to get the flow, cadence, rhythm, understanding and dynamics.
Think of your Pilates practice as your body learning a new language. At first it will feel slow and awkward but with practice, concentration and sincere effort, you will progress. But you must be in learning mode. If you are just looking to pick up a weight and put down a weight, Pilates may not be for you. You must be trying to learn and remember at each and every session and with your home practice or you will never make the progress or receive the benefits of the method.