An Example of Fitness Writing on the Topic of Pilates

I’m continuing my exploration of different writing genres with this post, which is an example of fitness writing. Basically, fitness writing is any writing that focuses on the topic of fitness. Lauren Bedosky wrote an article for MediaBistro, a web platform devoted to those in the media and content industries, in which she explained that “fitness writing can be highly technical and nuanced,” a statement that can also be true of medical writing. However, also similar to medical writing, some fitness writing is aimed at a general audience. This is why, as Bedosky pointed out, fitness writers “don’t…need a personal training certification or a degree in exercise science…” to have a place in the field.

As an example of fitness writing, I’m sharing a post I originally wrote for a client who decided to stop keeping a blog before I had a chance to submit it to him for publication. Actually, this isn’t the first time I’ve posted an example of fitness writing in my blog, as I’ve previously written about swimming, yoga, and running. In this post, which I’ve edited slightly for posting here, I explore the topic of Pilates. Pilates is a form of exercise you might not know much about and, because of the equipment it uses, you might find it intimidating. Hopefully this post will enlighten you about Pilates and show you that it’s a form of exercise nearly anyone can do.

Pilates: Everything You Need to Know About This Unique Fitness Workout

When it comes to fitness workouts, there’s no shortage of options. For example, you might try HIIT, which focuses on raising and lowering your heartrate repeatedly throughout the workout. Or, maybe isometric exercise, which focuses on static strength training, is a better fit for you. Here’s another option you might not have considered: Pilates. Read on to find out about this unique fitness workout.

History of Pilates

Pilates is named after Joseph Pilates who, as Marguerite Ogle writing for Verywell Fit explained, was sickly as a child and devoted his life to learning about health and wellness. One of his inspirations was the ancient Greek ideal of fitness as a balance of mind, body, and spirit. He studied anatomy and engaged in multiple sports, such as bodybuilding, wrestling, gymnastics, and others.

Before World War I, Ogle noted, Pilates was a professional boxer and circus entertainer in England. Because he had been born in Germany, he was interned in England during the war. In the internment camp, he encountered other detainees who were struggling with various injuries. He decided to try to help them and developed a series of floor exercises that used everyday items found in the camp as exercise resistance equipment.

Ogle went on to describe how, after World War I ended, Pilates returned to Germany, but when he was asked to become a physical trainer for the German army, he made his way to the United States. Between 1926 and 1966, Pilates and his wife established a training studio, developed the exercise equipment used in Pilates, and trained many students and teachers. Over the years, the exercises Pilates created gained a reputation for being helpful in rehabilitating injuries and in developing strength and graceful movement.

Typical Pilates Exercises

Some Pilates exercises require little to no equipment, as described in an article by Megan Falk on the Shape website. These exercises include such moves as the plank, the lunge, and the glute bridge. In addition to these standards are moves like the hundred, which involves sitting on the floor with your legs raised in a v shape while pumping your arms; the roll up, which requires lying flat on your back and then rolling into a seated position and back down again; and the saw, where you sit on the floor with your legs in front of you and swivel to reach first one foot and then the other.

Other Pilates exercises are done on an apparatus, and there are several to choose from. As described by the World Pilates Confederation, they include the Reformer, which is a mat on a frame suspended by springs. The object of exercises done on this apparatus is to resist the springs. 

Reformer Bed (Flickr/Runway Pilates)

Another apparatus described by the World Pilates Confederation is called the Cadillac, which was originally known as the Trapeze Table. A variety of exercises can be performed on this apparatus, which is a sort of jungle gym. These exercises use arm springs, leg springs, a bar to roll backwards over for spinal flexibility, and another bar to push forward through for shoulder stability and stretching.

Other equipment described by the World Pilates Confederation includes the Tower, which is similar to the Cadillac but adapted for use in smaller spaces, and the Chair, which consists of a small seat with a small pedal below. Exercises using this apparatus are done either sitting on the seat, standing on the seat, or standing on the pedal. It is known as one of the more challenging pieces of Pilates apparatus to use.

Finally are the Barrel and the Ladder Barrel, also described by the World Pilates Confederation. The Barrel is a half-moon shaped apparatus about the diameter of half a beer keg. The Ladder Barrel is similar, and both are designed for doing spinal extension exercises for flexibility.

Benefits of Pilates

As a WebMD article written by Kara Meyer Robinson noted, there are several fitness benefits to Pilates. The primary focus is on strengthening the core. Both the abs and the pelvic area are strengthened through typical Pilates exercises. However, not only the core can be strengthened through Pilates. Arms and legs are also strengthened. This is because they are used to add stability as typical Pilates exercises are completed.

Another fitness benefit to Pilates that Meyer Robinson pointed out is flexibility. Bending and stretching movements are common, and these aid in flexibility. Pilates exercises also help mobilize the joints, which is a related benefit. Furthermore, they do so in a gentle, low-impact way, so people of all fitness levels can give Pilates a try.

Precautions with Pilates

 Although Pilates is known as a gentle, low-impact form of exercise, it can still be strenuous, and for this reason, as Meyer Robinson suggested, certain people might want to check with their doctor before trying it. These include people who have diabetes or diabetic retinopathy. Others who might need to be cautious are those who have had recent knee or back injuries or those with chronic back pain. Women who are pregnant should also check with their doctor before doing Pilates.