Dynamic Reformer Pilates - am I too old?
You’re over 40 and thinking of trying a class at your local reformer Pilates studio, but the question that is running rampant through your brain is:
Am I too old?
Am I too broken and injured?
Am I too inflexible?
Will they make me stand on my head and do crazy shit?
Are blokes allowed?
Am I too (insert your current hang-up here)?
My first Pilates experience was a session at the physiotherapist. I’d just had a shoulder cleaned up and he ran me through a couple of sessions to try to recover the range of motion. As the physio opening hours weren’t working for me, I turned to my old friend Google and discovered a new KX Pilates studio had just opened that week close to my home. With an introductory special of 5 classes for $25, I had nothing to lose.
this is a reformer - looks complex, but it supports the user to execute specific movements (source: kxpilates.com.au)
My first class, in July 2016, was almost my last. Everyone there seemed to be Olympic athletes, all of them half my age. I think I was the only male in the room. This was so not for me. However, my instructor for the day, Sarah, was very encouraging and so I figured I’d come back for just one more of the classes I’d already purchased.
You’re probably expecting the happy outcome here now, right? Let me tell you this - Class Number 2 was the worst thing in my life, ever! (a slight exaggeration, ok, but hear me out). They say a little knowledge is a bad thing, and I went into this class with just that. As Melbourne’s new dynamic reformer expert, I smashed out glute bridges and squats and lunges and donkey kicks and every other butt exercise known to man, then triumphantly smashed down my jumbo-sized coffee. I felt I’d taken on Everest and conquered it, that my underlying elite fitness had been revealed - and now I was ready to take on the world.
When they say “Go hard, or go home”, they don’t reveal there’s a middle option, called “you’re not 22 any more, take your time”. One day after taking the Pilates world by storm, I couldn’t move from the couch. In fact, my butt muscles were so sore, I couldn’t sit on the couch. Maybe it would take a third class to reassert my authority as a fitness leader.
By class 5, something strange had happened - for 2 weeks, I’d not visited the osteopath, nor thrown anti-inflammatories down my neck, for my ongoing back problems. Not only had I made it off the couch, I’d also started to feel more upright and open, with no pain. My ego may have taken a hit when I realised I was not the fitness god I first thought I was; however, I was still standing - and now a proud buyer of 10 more Plates classes.
Fast forward another month, I’ve purchased a 15-class monthly pack, still not visited my osteopath, still not reached for the Voltaren.
So what happened? Let’s return to the questions at the start - and perhaps you can decide if Dynamic Reformer Pilates is for you.
Am I too old for Pilates?
Despite being the oldest in my first class, I’ve seen people in Pilates classes old enough to be my parent. However, if you look at the ads of most reformer studios, you could be excused for thinking it’s for 21-year old contortionists. So do this - jump on the Facebook page of the studio you’re considering and look at the photos of people in classes. Many of them are probably just like you.
Dynamic reformer classes are a bit different to more traditional sessions. Some exercises are designed to get your heart rate up, to give a calorie burn. Unlike many forms of cardio, it’s low impact and you won’t be asked to do anything beyond what will work for you. We all start somewhere!
In the words of Joseph Pilates himself - “If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old; if it is completely flexible at 60, you are young”. Reformer Pilates has benefits to people of all different ages. Arguably, the benefits are more significant the older you get! You’re not too old… next excuse!
Am I too broken and injured for Pilates?
Firstly, ask your doctor. Anyone returning to exercise after an extended period away needs professional advice, especially if any underlying health concerns are present. If you’re carrying an injury, it’s probably best to recover from it first. In this case, you might try some clinical Pilates first, working with your health professional to rehabilitate your specific injury.
If you have a long term issue though - such as chronic back pain - and moderate exercise is not going to cause further damage, then Pilates may be ideal for you. The reason I’d pull up sore when I first started (other than being an idiot in class number 2) was that Pilates targets small stabiliser muscles through your body unlike any other form of exercise I’ve come across. You’ll discover muscles that you didn’t know you had - muscles that are vital for our core and joint stability. And let me warn you in advance, it’s the opposite of a boot camp, because the toughest things you’ll do will be the slowest movements (or no movement at all) with the lightest resistance. Another warning: Pilates teachers as a group are terrible at counting - “15 seconds more” is never 15 seconds!
Injured? Discuss with your health professionals first. Broken? If you have the all clear to exercise, Reformer Pilates, with it’s controlled, low impact movements and focus on core strength can change your life.
Low impact exercise - but just wait until the shakes start
Am I too inflexible for Reformer Pilates?
I’ve now done 700 classes at my local studio, plus some more around town and hip flexors are still tight, as are my hamstrings. It’s possible that I’m the least flexible person there. I could do another 700 classes and this wouldn’t change. My flexibility has improved over time, yet the biggest change is that I now have strength at the end of my ranges of motion. Five years ago, I was hesitant to pick up a bag of dog food. Now I happily deadlift high volume repetitions well beyond my bodyweight, without worrying I’ll blow my back out (note: I had a PT teach me to do this properly, which involved kicking my ass every time I even vaguely started to lose form. Doing stuff the wrong way is fraught with danger, so get help)
Do you need to be flexible to do Reformer Pilates? No - our bodies are all different, and the reformer helps you by supporting different movements.
Will Pilates improve your flexibility? “Your results may vary” - you know the drill! For me, it created some improvement. It helped significantly in regaining movement in my shoulder, as the physio suggested it would. Most of all, it has built strength at the ends of my movement range, better supporting my body and reducing the chance of injury during activities. I also lost 14 kgs - as my back pain disappeared, I became more active in general. When you don’t have a gut in the way, it’s easier to touch your toes!
Will they make me stand on my head and do crazy shit?
No. You might have an instructor that can, which you’ll see on Instagram but not in class. You’ll never be asked to do anything beyond your own abilities. Exercises are layered, so you’ll start with a basic move and then build on that as your confidence in the foundation improves. There’s a limited number of places that train people to become Pilates teachers, so you’ll find a high level of consistency in the basics wherever you go, especially when it comes to safety. No crazy shit here.
I do consider that I’ve been very lucky to have some wonderful instructors. Since I’ve started, I’ve done over 500 of my classes with just two instructors. It does help to work consistently with someone, as they get to know your abilities better. Working with Lil and Allie, they’ve always known when to nurse me through something and when to give me a big push. Be open about where you’re at and where you want to be and your coach will be a vital part of your journey.
over 500 classes with these two stars, they each deserve a medal!
Are blokes allowed at Pilates?
Yes (most places, anyway). The more important question is this one - “Will men benefit from Pilates?”. The answer is also yes. In many classes I’ve attended, I’ve been the only male. It bothered me a little to begin, not now. And some of my friends did give me grief for a while, for doing “girl’s exercises” - though that stopped once they saw the results.
It’s not uncommon to see a guy come along for his first class - usually dragged in by his significant other - and be reduced to a blubbering mess when they discover those aforementioned little stabiliser muscles. Pilates gets into different muscles than the weight room.
Still not sure that blokes should try Pilates? A couple of recent Brownlow medallists are pretty good advertisements - Dustin Martin and Nat Fyfe. By the way, Nat Fyfe’s instructor was 64 when they began working together. I guess she’s not too old for Pilates.
Blokes of all ages are allowed and made to feel welcome.
yes, once again I’m the only guy in Pilates class
Am I too…?
I had every hang-up listed above and then some. Without the initial push from the physiotherapist, I’d never have tried reformer Pilates. Now I can’t imagine not doing it. You can see below what 12 months of Pilates did for me - but that’s the outside. What you don’t see is the joy of no more back pain and the confidence I now have to move and use my body. Don’t take my word for it though - if any of this strikes a chord with you, check out your local studio. They all have introductory packs, usually offering 3-6 classes or a 2-week period for less than a single appointment at your health provider (but make sure you speak to them if you have any concerns, this is always wise!) What do you have to lose?
before and after… Pilates has given me the confidence in my body to get active
