For those of you who do Pilates

[KateKat]

and find that it helps with riding, what kind of Pilates are you doing, i.e. mat classes, at home DVD, reformer/personal trainer, etc?

Also, how often do you have to do it to really feel/see it making a difference? I wanted to start incorporating some Pilates into my fitness schedule however I haven’t found a great at home DVD and I’m not sure that meeting with a trainer would be beneficial (I could only do it once a week, MAX). However, after hearing that it really helps your riding I do want to do something…

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

Go to a mat class led by someone certified by Romana what’s-her-name…the “true disciple” of Joseph Pilates. Your typical Y class run by “an exercise instructor” will not know how to modify any exercises for individual needs.

Also get the book by Janice Dulak. VERY helpful.

I go once a week, try to do some at home (which rarely happens) - even so, still a huge help.

[lizathenag]

there is great potential to hurt yourself so please find a good pilates studio. worth every penny!

[eclipse]

I also do mat pilates with a certified instructor & I LOVE it. In fact, this next time I’m going to be signing up for 2 sessions a week instead of one. I get to try the reformer in next weeks class, so then I’ll see which I prefer.

Definatly get a certified instructor & not a follow along DVD or regular exercise person. You have to make sure that you are using the correct muscles & in the correct sequence or you could really do some damage to yourself!

[Roan]

I use the “Pilates for Dressage Riders” DVD that was done by the aforementioned Janice Dulak.

Eileen

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

I got the book “Pilates for Dummies.” It’s really good - pictures and text (which you do need to read carefully). And it’s broken down into “pre-Pilates” (which is where I started:o); beginner; intermediate, and advanced. I’m up to intermediate now and ready to move into the advanced exercises - this has taken since early December, mind.

I manage to do the exercises five or six times a week, since all I need is my book, mat and a spare half-hour.:yes:

And oh, boy has it helped my riding. I ride hunt seat, not dressage, but I can tell a huge difference as my core has gotten stronger. Oh! And you know what else? That nagging lower back pain I just thought I’d have to live with? All gone!

[Angel_Undercover]

I’ve been contemplating buying the Pilates for Dressage Riders DVD for a while now. Those of you who have it, do you think it’s worthwhile? I’m planning on taking some real classes at a studio, but not until Sept. when my work schedule calms down and I’m back at school. I was hoping this DVD would tide me over in the meantime and then supplement real classes later on?

[Arcadien]

I am fresh from my second Pilates class at a nice fitness club. She was very careful with me being the newbie. I know I’d never work that hard without a coach in front telling me to though, LOL (YMMV!)

Haven’t ridden enough to see the difference yet but seems to be working my “core” muscles like nothing ever before.

Anyway, did you know we have muscles attached to our RIBS?? I guess I didn’t think much on this before, actually, but right now I could point them each out to you rib muscle by rib muscle LOLOL -

Aching nicely, apparently not muscles I use much otherwise in daily life GRIN.

Reccommend trying a class at a decent gym, if you can find one with certified instructors.

Arcadien,
off to take some more Advil lol

[ReSomething]

I’d rather not be negative as it isn’t too helpful towards your goal, but I have a truly dreadful pilates DVD. It is too rapid, ASSumes you have a knowledge of correct form and terms and yes, you could really hurt yourself.
That being said I think that the Pilates for dressage riders or Pilates for Dummies both sound promising depending on your starting fitness level, and if you have never done Pilates, like me, get to a studio and learn it slowly and properly rather than try to watch a DVD while you are flat on your back trying to figure out just what that toned young woman is doing up there, cause you can’t get your legs to do that, at all.

[TikiSoo]

Many moons ago I took Pilates in support of a friend who started her own dance studio. Loved it.
About 2 years ago I started watching (then doing) Namaste Yoga on FitTV and realized Pilates is totally based on yoga. Since it airs at dinnertime, every M-F I must participate before I can have dinner. It’s the only way I can “make” myself take the 25 minutes a day…holding dinner hostage!

Yoga has more effect on me than Pilates because much of it is balance positions. It has definitely made a difference in my ability to balance (and can I add gracefulness?) and helps stretch my muscles after riding.

[hollyhorse2000]

I do one-on-one Pilates with an instructor who has developed an “equestrian pilates” program in Maryland (fittothecore.com) She is fantastic. She is a rider and we work on side to side imbalances, flexibility, etc. I use the reformer with some mat. She does a fair bit of hands-on work with me almost like physical therapy. (I have very, very tight back and leg muscles.) I can’t believe how quickly it made a difference. I was going weekly and seeing a huge difference, but it is quite expensive. So I’m going every other week and doing the exercises she’s taught me on the mat at home. I really need her “eye” on me, though, to make sure I’m doing each exercise correctly. With my body weirdness, I feel “even” for example, when I’m not. So I’m not a huge fan of doing it all by myself . . .

[shalomypony]

Pilates has totally changed my life and definitely helps with riding.I’ve had two back surgeries and pilates has been the best thing for me.I do mat pilates and that’s all.I started with a trainer who is very good.It’s critical to have a trainer in the beginning so you do everything correctly ,which ,again, is critical!!!I can do it on my own now and was able to after about two months of weekly classes,but I still go to class because it’s fun.I do pilates 3-4 times a week.You’ll be amazed at the body changes!!The Pilates Body by Brooke Siler is my “pilates bible”.I’m into my second yr of pilates.

[twinkle]

What type of certification should I look for?? How do I know if they are good trainers?

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

If they’ve trained with Romana …I’ll have to find her last name, but they all say “Romana” anyway - she is the disciple/student of Joseph Pilates.

[Twiliath]

Hi, there.

I am a certified Pilates instructor through Stott Pilates (www.stottpilates.com). I have also certified with Elizabeth Hansen of Fit to the Core (mentioned above) who created Equestrian Pilates (www.equestrianpilates.com).

I must take exception to the recommendation of only working with classical Pilates instructors who have trained with Romana “what’s her name” in NYC. While her studio is undiluted/evolved from what Josef Pilates taught until his death in the 1960’s, that doesn’t mean it’s the only game in town.

I also take exception to the classical form of a very tight butt and turned out legs. That works perfectly for dance (which I also did years ago), but doesn’t work very well for riding. First, you need to bend your knees; second, you need your feet to be straight forward; third, many horses (especially chestnut mares!) don’t like a clenched butt.

I have taught once-a-week Power Mat classes and my students’ riding has benefited. Their (my) trainer has said so and recommended it to them to take classes with me.

I’ve also personally benefited from Reformer work.

Certification - check into the certification requirements: How many hours of training? What’s required to earn the certificate? Showing up or studying for 6-9 months and taking a test?

The best that I know of (there may be others) are: Stott, Romana’s, and Physical Mind Institute. I know of someone who got certified through ITT and I liked her work.

If it’s a 2-day, weekend course with a cert at the end for zero effort, it’s worth the paper it’s printed on and no more.

If you want a recommendation for a DVD for home use, go to www.stottpilates.com and look at either the “Essential Mat” or the “Power Mat” DVD.

I think Elizabeth Hansen of Equestrian Pilates either has or is planning to publish a DVD also.

Any more questions? Please PM me or post here.

Good luck to you!

[Tuesday_s_Child]

I just started pilates recently through a city-run program. Supposed to be 8 once-a-week sessions, but 3 were cancelled - but I can feel a difference in my riding already! It really works your core. I would also suggest starting with a class so you have someone monitoring what you’re doing. I used to do some yoga, that helped a lot as well.

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

I said what I did only to emphasize that the instructor should be certified and know what they are doing - I’m not familiar with every derivation of Pilates. But it is essential that any instructor know how to appropriately modify the exercises for anyone who needs them modified (due to past injury or whatever). Anyone who has simply taken classes in Pilates and then thinks they can then teach a class is a disaster waiting to happen. (This has happened at one of the local Y’s.)

[asterix]

Agree with what’s been said re: good teacher, certified through hands-on training, at a reputable studio.
Doing it by yourself will NOT fix some issues – I don’t know about everyone else, but I was so crooked when I started that I felt “even” when I was wildly out of alignment. Having a good eye (and often hand) on you is essential. You will also work MUCH harder and more correctly with instruction.

I go once a week, have done for years. My core is really strong, I have much improved body awareness, and it has made a dramatic difference in my riding. I recently started riding with a new dressage instructor and when he said “I want your core to be tired” I thought, well, keep trying!

[Lambie_Boat]

I second a Stott certified instructor

I started with matt classes and advanced to Reformer classes. Now I have my own at Reformer studio at home! I am still fat, but ssssstrong like bull!

[delznnord]

Just for clarification: it’s Romana Kryzanowska. No wonder no one could remember the name! The only reason I know this is because I took a Pilates class at college last year with a woman who had trained with her.

I had always done yoga in the past, so at first I thought Pilates was a little silly… but eventually I did start to see results. Especially for any kind of back problems it is VERY helpful as it emphasizes straightness and stability in the spine. This in turn helps you in your riding. I now like both yoga and Pilates, although they both are very beneficial with overall fitness and muscle strengthening. I have never tried the specific riding Pilates but would definitely give it a shot.

Oh and I have some good Pilates DVDs that I got from Barnes & Noble… not sure of the names but they sell both the Pilates and yoga variety there.