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?
Classical Pilates of Long Island is the name of the studio, Classical Pilates is the Pilates you will learn and practice at this studio. So, what is Classical Pilates, in short it is the real deal.
In a 90s trademark lawsuit, Pilates was ruled to be a generic term, which enabled anyone to call pretty much anything “Pilates,” and they do. So, when you use the term Pilates, hear or read the term Pilates there is no way to make a blanket sweeping statement about what Pilates is or what you will get from a specific Pilates studio or instructor. However, with Classical Pilates you absolutely will know what you are getting. Classical Pilates is a system created by Joseph Pilates and passed down to the elders and received through a lineage. All classically trained instructors know their lineage. Joseph taught the elder Romana Kryzanokoswki who then taught both my teachers Jennifer Kries and Clare Dunphy-Hemani. This establishes me as third generation instructor, entrusted to carry on and pass down the work.
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?
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 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.