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Is there a difference between the Pilates ‘Methods'

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Posted on 25 Feb, 2016
Stott method

We shared an article on our FB page that talked about the difference between Pilates and Stott Pilates.  We received multiple comments that indicated the author may have missed the mark on this story.  As a result, we followed up with those who commented seeing if they would be willing to elaborate and give their ideas on the topic. 

Our friend Marie-Claire Prettyman AKA The Movement Specialist provided her thoughts below.

Is there a difference between the Pilates ‘Methods’?

Well, I suppose that depends on how you are teaching movement and whether your teaching conforms to the 6 principles Pilates identified as being the key to his method of physical training.

For anyone who doesn’t know what these are, the principles are as follows:

Centering, Concentration, Control, Breathing, Precision & Flow

These components essentially make the difference between Pilates and something like, Body Conditioning.

An article I read recently attempted to claim differences between the Stott method of Pilates and Classical Pilates, making statements like, ‘The neutral spine is the primary difference between Stott and traditional Pilates’1 and ‘Many people misinterpret the Stott technique and accuse instructors of advising their students to arch their back during the various exercises. The neutral spine, however, does not qualify as an arched position,’2 plus ‘The Stott technique also uses the stability ball, the foam roller and the bosu, which is a half ball for some of the exercises. Pilates traditionalists are opposed to using these fitness tools.’3

1In one respect, I agree completely with the principle of teaching people to work in a ‘neutral’ position, however; biomechanically speaking, one can be in a neutral pelvis and not in a neutral spine and vice versa due to postural anomalies and individuality. To force people into neutral is as counterintuitive as insisting on a lumbar imprint.   The imprint has for many years now been understood to be a major cause of Psoas shortening and thus facilitating the anterior tilt, but forcing someone into neutral, could potentially lead to overextension of the lower thoracic region and a loss of integrity between the ribcage and pelvis creating excessive tension in the lower back and weakened abdominals (in one scenario – there are many).

Stott Pilates, like so many other ‘brands’ have taken on board the scientific understandings that have evolved since Pilates’ time.  Encouraging a more neutral position of the axial skeleton, allows the muscles to lie evenly on both sides of the body, thus leading to balance between the agonist and antagonist and between strength and flexibility.  Body Control Pilates™, MK Pilates™, Alan Herdman Pilates™, Polestar Pilates UK™ et al, have also studied and allowed the Pilates method to evolve with the changes in the way that humans live their lives and the progressions made in research.  To claim that Stott is somehow unique in this approach is short-sighted and fundamentally, untrue.

2To claim that many people misinterpret the Stott method and accuse the instructors of teaching an arched back is as delusional as accusing the ‘Traditional Pilates’ teachers of not appreciating biomechanical norms and the value of using 3‘fitness’ tools to support training.  Joseph Pilates was a visionary, a man who evolved, developed and grew in terms of his understanding of physicality and as a person throughout his life.  If he was here today, he would absolutely be using as many bits of kit that he could find to assist his clients in finding the most functional and balanced body that they were capable of.

I have been trained by some of the world’s greatest Pilates experts in the U.K, Spain and the U.S.A and for a time, I worked in a studio in Florida alongside those ’Classical’ teachers trained by Romana herself.  My background is predominantly rehabilitation and biomechanics so my approach is extremely cautious and precise.  I also thought that there would be stark differences between my style and Romana’s graduates.  But, you know what; we all wanted the same things from our clients, we adhered to the principles and within that framework you are teaching the person that is in front of you, not the exercise.  (It just so happened that many of my clients were either injured or unwell). Every movement, every concept, every variation can be manipulated to suit the individual that is in front of you in order to develop functionality.  THAT is how to teach Pilates, because that is what Joe would have done.

So is there a difference?  The only difference is between teachers who ‘get it’ and teachers who ‘don’t’.  The ‘brands’ will always put their own spin on things and share their own ways of understanding the principles, but at the end of the day 2 things will always be the same; the principles and human anatomy.

Marie-Claire Pettyman AKA the Movement Specialist. 

‘Teach the person & the principles not just an exercise’.

 

Marie-Claire Prettyman a.k.a The Movement Specialist – www.themovementspecialist.co.uk

marieclaire@themovementspecialist.co.ukFITT - Fitness Inspired Teacher Training

UK Finalist for ‘Inspirational Woman of the Year’

 

Director of Fitness Inspired Teacher Training – www.fitt.org.uk

Marie Claire FBmarieclaire@fitt.org.uk

Facebook - Marie-Claire Pilates & Yoga Specialist
Twitter - @MCPilatesYoga
 Instagram - themovementspecialist

Author of ‘Opposition in Pilates & Yoga – Newton’s Third Law meets Mindfulness’

 

What are your thoughts?  Please leave a comment below and let us know.

Comments
8 years ago
The nature of Pilates is to evolve ... by Jeanne Long
I totally agree you either get it our you dont that each individual is unique. So many of us have scoliosis as well and I agree with the idea of Pilates as rehabilitation. After all isnt that what Joe used it for in the very beginning?For instance the Pilates stance ie turned out femurs while legs are extended may not work well for the client who has an over active glute or multiple kinetic chain issues and would benefit from corrective exercise approach and perhaps working more in parallel. There is also a difference between directing a client to always work in a post tilt vs the client "needing" to work in a post tilt. Of course nuetral spine is something to strive for but most people are still on their way there.For myself, having a host of issues including scoliosis and foraminal stenosis in the lower vertebra,the post tilt does not work for me. Doing Pilates this way post Stott training has really strained my particular back and has especially shortened my right psoas. I must use props to achieve a level psis while supine and I absolutely can no longer turn out my right leg while at full extension with spurs in the hip without using something tucked under my psis. I totally agree with Marie-Claire Prettyman. It's not always good to push the neutral pelvis into an alignment its not ready for. However, It makes a huge difference "simulating" neutral with a prop. Marie Jose Blom Master Pilates teacher of our time has created a smart spine program and literally manufactured props specifically for all of the individual bodies out there.The pain literally melts away for me. I have a rotation in the pelvis and found one of Madeline Black's secret videos on line. She says if she doesnt have a prop handy, she puts a shoe under the hip while lying prone. But not on the side you might think. Placing the prop under the asis of the hip on the mat...not the one off the mat so the hips are even. Voila!!! No pain or strain in my low back.So many of us these days are not opting for major surgery and holding out as long as we can. Using Pilates as Therapy is sweeping the nation. As a former dance instructor, we were always taught that we could not "patent" a dance movement. Of course neutral spine doesnt "belong" to anyone entity. I was Stott trained and thought it was the best rehab Pilates out there until I tried other methods that took my experience even deeper. I love eclectic styles that fuse kinesiology, Physical Therapy and Corrective exercise with Pilates. When I met Polestar I just about fell in love with the more rehabilitative approach. Karen Sanzo with Balanced Body, Inc. can make a beginning Pilates class feel soo good she is also a Registered PT. Madeline Black is one of the most amazing teachers of the last 20 years. I honestly think Joe sent her to take this body of work to deeper levels of adaptive Pilates. Judith Aston is another great . Whoever thought a roll back would include a sort of lateral shifting or feathering. We were all taught to sit way back in our chairs right? But biomechanically, it's much better to sit at the edge of your seat. We are always learning and creating and figuring it out. That is why I love Pilates Anytime. One of their recent posts asked us "what Pilates meant to us". Most of the comments were about how Pilates helped with an anatomical issue or injury. Pilates Anytime showcases just about every method out there so we can safely experience and choose what works best for us.The many methods of Pilates out there is a juicy thing and we should enjoy it! We are not snobs. We are movement artists, movement analysts and human beings having a movement experience! Following our intuition , listening to our body signals and allowing alignment is what Pilates is all about. Pilates is not dense. It's intelligent movement. Enjoy the Pilates journey!