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Pilates training is soaring in popularity in health clubs today. What is its
mystique? What attracts so many people to this rather unexceptional training
system, based upon several other exercise methods by its inventor, Joseph
Pilates? For some extensive background information on this topic, read my
article in Dolfzine magazine at:
http://www.dolfzine.com/page95.htm
While the claim that Pilates offers a 'unique' system for creating long,
unbulky muscles generally is very well known, it is apparent that many
Pilates instructors have no idea how poor and misleading Joseph Pilates'
knowledge of human structure and function actually was. Nevertheless, his
devotees blissfully seem to ignore such details and continue to extol all
that he taught and believed.
Let us examine some Pilates ideas by reading extracts from one of his books:
Return to Life THROUGH CONTROLOGY
by Joseph H. Pilates & William John Miller
Excerpt from the original as published by the Christopher Publishing House,
Boston, U.S.A.
<http://www.hermit.com/hermit/control.htm>
For start, take this statement:
Pilates:
< Because of poor posture, practically 95 per cent of our population suffers
from varying degrees of spinal curvature, not to mention more serious
ailments. In a newly-born infant the back is flat because the spine is
straight. Of course, we all know that this is exactly as intended by nature
not only then but also
throughout life. However, this ideal condition rarely obtains in adult life.
When the spine curves, the entire body is thrown out of its natural alignment
off balance. Note daily the thousands of persons with round, stooped
shoulders, and protruding abdomens. The back would be flat if the spine were
kept as straight as a plumb line, and its flexibility would be comparable to
that of the finest watch spring steel.>
*** Pilates obviously is totally unaware that the human spine exhibits
different curvatures at different stages of its development and that, while
it is perfectly normal to have a relatively straight spine during young
infancy, it is pathological for it not to exhibit its usual three curvatures
in adulthood. The cervical, thoracic and lumbar curvatures do not reflect
pathology or abnormality - on the contrary, these curvatures enhance the
efficiency and safe functioning of the spine in the dynamically active adult.
Biomechanical analysis even shows that the three natural curvatures of the
human spine enable it to cope far more effectively with loading than a
straight spine (see Kapandji "Physiology of the Joints"). Moreover, the
flexibility of the spine would be severely hampered were the spine as
straight as is recommended by the misinformed Pilates. To put it kindly,
everything that he wrote in the above extract is nonsense.
Pilates:
< One of the major results of Contrology is gaining the mastery of your mind
over the complete control of your body. How many beginners are amazed and
chagrined (even trained athletes in the public eye) to discover how few (if
any) Contrology exercises they are able to execute properly! Their previous
failure to exercise regularly and properly, or their method of training, has
not helped them. There is unmistakable evidence, too, that the functioning of
the brain has correspondingly deteriorated. >
*** Even the highly advanced science of today has not been able to definitely
show that failure to exercise or "balance the body" causes deterioration of
brain function. When Pilates was alive, he certainly was unable to produce
evidence to support such a wild claim. If anything, MRI or PET scans do not
seem to have shown loss of brain function in people who are sedentary or
somehow physically "unbalanced".
Pilates:
<The brain itself is actually a sort of natural telephone switchboard
exchange incorporated in our bodies as a means of communication through the
sympathetic nervous system to all our muscles. Unfortunately, pure reason
plays only a minor part in the lives of most of us. In practically every
instance the daily acts we perform are governed by what we THINK we see,
hear, or touch, without stopping first to analyze or think of the possible
results of our actions, good or bad. As the result of habit or reflex action,
we wink, dodge, and operate machines more or less automatically. IDEALLY, OUR
MUSCLES SHOULD OBEY OUR WILL. REASONABLY, OUR WILL SHOULD NOT BE DOMINATED BY
THE REFLEX ACTIONS OF OUR MUSCLES. When brain cells are developed, the mind
too is developed. Teachers start with sense organs. Contrology begins with
mind control over muscles.>
*** Pilates does not seem to appreciate that the muscular system is
controlled by voluntary and involuntary or reflexive processes for a very
good reason. Had he spent a little more time studying his contemporary, the
renowned Pavlov, rather than devising weird and wonderful training devices,
he would have discovered the importance of conditioned reflexes and how
reflexive actions relieve the cognitive brain from being inefficiently
preoccupied with far too many mundane physiological processes. He would have
learned that physical training enhances motor efficiency by conditioning many
actions in the nervous system to become more automatic and that the continued
use of reason and conscious attention of the brain is characteristic of the
novice or injured.
His statement that the non-physical "Will" can be dominated by the reflex
actions of our muscles shows an even greater ignorance of human consciousness
and neuromuscular function. While reflex actions can create an awareness of
motor processes in the brain, they cannot directly affect cognitive function.
Pilates again:
<By reawakening thousands and thousands of otherwise ordinarily dormant
muscle cells, Contrology correspondingly reawakens thousands and thousands of
dormant brain cells, thus activating new areas and stimulating further the
functioning of the mind. No wonder then that so many persons express such
great surprise following their initial experience with Contrology exercises
caused by their realization of the resulting sensation of "uplift." For the
first time in many years their minds have been truly awakened. Continued use
of Contrology steadily increases the normal and natural supply of pure rich
blood to flow to and circulate throughout the brain with corresponding
stimulation to new brain areas previously dormant. More significantly, it
actually develops more brain cells.>
*** Since modern science has not been able to show that the body is swamped
with 'dormant' muscle cells, even via the use of fine wire EMG electrodes or
any other highly technological means, how Pilates was able to reach this
conclusion should be regarded as unadulterated nonsense. How did he possibly
manage to count those miraculously awakened muscle cells after his clients
executed some gymnastic manoeuvres on his "Cadillac", "Reformer" or other
wonder device? He also is totally unaware that most cells in the body die
and are replaced by entirely new cells every few months, including the muscle
cells, so that any dormant cells must have died and be reborn once again as
new dormant cells. Furthermore, it has never been shown that somehow
"awakening" sleeping muscle cells will directly stimulate functioning of the
mind.
He even suggests that his "contrology" method of exercising magically
increases blood flow to the brain and to circulate throughout its expanse.
He could not have known back then that the brain demands a fairly invariant
percentage of the body's total blood flow and that, if anything, exercise
tries to diminish blood flow to the brain, Fortunately, the body contains
auto-regulators which ensure that the brain's blood supply is not compromised
by exercise in the healthy person.
He also states that his method stimulates new brain areas previously dormant,
which also is sheer drivel. Brain areas don't simply lie dormant from birth
waiting for some contrology exercises to arouse them from years of slumber.
Pilates continues:
<You may derive all the benefits of Contrology in your own home. The only
unchanging rules you must
conscientiously obey are that you must always faithfully and without
deviation follow the instructions accompanying the exercises and always keep
your mind wholly concentrated on the purpose of the exercises as you perform
them.>
*** This paragraph clearly follows what he wrote earlier, namely that one
should not allow any reflexive actions form part of one's training. One
wonders why he doesn't insist that everyone learn some yogic skills in
controlling many more of one's involuntary processes, so that we can develop
even more fully. Why stop at the reflexes involving the skeletal muscles?
Why not attempt to control cardiac function, peristalsis, eye blinking,
breathing rate and so on? After all, if muscle reflexes can control the
"Will", as Pilates suggests, then all other involuntary processes in the body
can also do the same.
While one can keep one's mind consciously on the purpose of slow or
cocontractile muscle actions, it is impossible, nay, highly inadvisable, to
try to do so during any rapid, ballistic or explosive movements. Slower
actions allow one to control the motor process by means of ongoing feedback,
but faster and ballistic actions demand the use of feedforward or virtual
reality visualisations of what a given action is to look like a fraction of a
second or a few seconds later. Had Pilates played sports such as golf,
tennis, cricket or baseball, he would soon have appreciated the errors
inherent in his proclamations. Golfers often refer to his sort of advice as
"paralysis by analysis". Strangely enough, Pilates in his pre-war internment
days was a boxer, so he really should have learned from experience that one
cannot focus on the purpose of every boxing movement while they are taking
place.
Pilates:
<.... above all, learn how to breathe correctly. "SQUEEZE" EVERY ATOM OF AIR
FROM YOUR LUNGS UNTIL THEY ARE ALMOST AS FREE OF AIR AS IS A VACUUM. >
*** Even the ancients were aware that one could never totally expel all air
from the lungs. Pilates doesn't even seem to have the basic intelligence to
realise that if all air were to be removed from the lungs or even close to a
state of vacuum, the lungs would suffer sever damage and even collapse
inwards. Of course, the human body is designed to prevent us from ever
exhaling to the level approximating that of a vacuum. That he really
believed that it is correct to breathe by attempting to take the lungs to a
state close to that of a vacuum is almost unbelievable.
Pilates:
<Constantly keep in mind the fact that you are not interested in merely
developing bulging muscles but rather flexible ones. Bulging muscles hinder
the attainment of flexibility because the over-developed muscles interfere
with the proper development of the under-developed muscles. True flexibility
can be achieved only when all muscles are uniformly developed.>
*** It is interesting to note that Pilates was one of the earliest believers
in the myth of hypertrophied muscles automatically causing reduced
flexibility. His very first sentence above errs seriously, because movement
range has nothing to with "flexible muscles". He then follows that bad
enough gem with the statement that "over-developed" muscles somehow hinder
the development of "under-developed" muscles, something that has never been
shown. He is massively preoccupied with the contention that flexibility
(i.e., Range of Movement, ROM) is determined solely by muscle structure, but
fails to appreciate that flexibility is strongly dependent on underlying
neural processes. One generally will increase ROM far more by using
neuromuscular facilitation techniques, rather than any exercises aimed at
producing his much-extolled flatter, longer, flexible muscles (which still is
the theme song of most Pilates fans today).
Pilates:
<However, be sure NEVER TO REPEAT THE SELECTED EXERCISE(S) MORE THAN THE
PRESCRIBED NUMBER OF TIMES since more harm will result than good by your
unwittingly or intentionally disregarding this most important advice and
direction. Why? Because this infraction creates muscular fatigue--poison.
There is really no need for tired muscles. Judicious selection of special
Contrology exercises will accomplish more for your health and bodily
condition, in conjunction with the foregoing advice, than all else combined.>
*** Muscular fatigue - poison?? No need for tired muscles? Pilates seems
to think that the perfectly natural process of fatigue is harmful to the
body, even though the body is a wonder of physiological efficiency which
relies on fatigue to automatically limit any attempts to exceed one's
individual limits. In doing so, he does not seem to acknowledge that
regular, progressive increments in loading enables the body to adapt to a
higher level of work capacity and efficiency. On the contrary, his advice
suggests that it is undesirable ever to impose any strenuous exercise which
will stimulate the body to become fitter and stronger. Somehow, he thinks
that avoidance of fatigue or periodic failure is desirable and that his
approach to training will produce a superior type of human functioning and
health. Yet, later on in the following paragraph he seems to appreciate the
importance of experiencing physical fatigue - apparently he is a little
unsure about this tricky phenomenon of fatigue.
Pilates:
<So if your sleep is disturbed, rise immediately and perform your exercises.
It is far better to be tired from physical exertion than to be fatigued by
the "poisons" generated by nervousness while lying awake. Particularly
beneficial in this regard are the spinal "rolling" and "unrolling" massage
exercises which relax the nerves and
induce sound, restful sleep.
Pilates:
<While conceding the fact that nowadays practically everyone of us routinely
indulges in daily baths, experience has nevertheless taught us that only a
small minority really achieve thorough cleanliness thereby, from our point of
view. In our opinion, the correct technique to use in accomplishing this
highly desirable result is to use only a good stiff brush (no handle) since
this type of brush forces us to twist, squirm, and contort ourselves in every
conceivable way in our attempts to reach every portion of our body which is
otherwise comparatively easy to reach with a handle brush.
The use of a good stiff brush as described stimulates circulation, thoroughly
cleans OUT the pores of the skin and removes dead skin too. The pores of your
skin must "breathe"--they cannot do so unless they are kept open and freed
from clogging. Your skin will soon respond most gratifyingly to this perhaps
seemingly "Spartan-like" treatment and acquire in the process a new, fresh,
glowing appearance, and develop a texture smooth and soft to the touch. So
brush away merrily, and heartily too!>
*** Some of you now will recall that a few of our list members proclaimed the
superiority of "brush bathing" over showering or bathing - now we know where
they learned that method. One does not need to vigorously brush the skin to
remove dead skin cells - they happen to fall off quite naturally and
effectively on their own. Moreover, all the brushing in the world will not
remove the bacteria and body odour that can make one somewhat unpleasant to
be near. Brush bathing has never been shown to be superior or even equal to
a hot-cold water shower followed by a comfortable towelling-down afterwards.
Once again, we are subjected to far more belief than fact.
Pilates:
<The ancient Athenians wisely adopted as their own the Roman motto: "Mens
sana in corpore sano" (A sane mind in a sound body). And the Greeks as a
people displayed even greater wisdom when they practiced what they preached
and thus came nearest to achieving its actual accomplishment.
Self-confidence, poise, consciousness of possessing the power to accomplish
our desires, with renewed lively interest in life are the natural results of
the practice of Contrology.>
***First of all, Pilates perpetrates a serious mistranslation of that Roman
aphorism, which gives it an entirely different and unintended meaning.
"Sana" in this context means "healthy", not "sane". He also uses an
"Allness" approach to infer that all Grecians display great wisdom simply
because a few Grecian philosophers displayed remarkable wisdom. Often what
they practised was more a result of law and social pressures than wise
deduction and creative thinking. He then follows up with a series of
non-sequiturs which suggest that his contrology exercise regimes
automatically (dare I suggest "reflexively" or "involuntarily"?) enhance
certain cognitive functions.
There are numerous other Pilates claims which appear in that article, but I
shall leave the remainder to others for their entertainment. Here are a few
typical examples which some of you may enjoy dissecting or attempting to
believe, depending on whether you a Pilates disciple or not:
HOMEWORK FOR THE MASSES
Pilates:
<As the spring freshets born of the heavy rains and vast masses of melting
snows on mountains in the hinterlands cause rivers to swell and rush
turbulently onward to the sea, so too will your blood flow with renewed vigor
as the direct result of your faithfully performing the Contrology exercises.
These exercises induce the heart to pump strong and steadily with the result
that the bloodstream is forced to carry and discharge more and more of the
accumulated debris created by fatigue.
Contrology exercises drive the pure fresh blood to every muscle fibre of our
bodies, particularly to the very important capillaries which ordinarily are
rarely ever fully stimulated once we have reached adulthood. As a heavy
rainstorm freshens the water of a sluggish or stagnant stream and whips it
into immediate action, so Contrology exercises purify the blood in the
bloodstream and whip it into instant action with the result that the organs
of the body, including the important sweat glands, receive the benefit of
clean fresh blood carried to them by the rejuvenated bloodstream. Observe the
beneficial effects that Contrology exercises have on your heart action.
Contrology exercises guard against unnecessary pounding or throbbing of your
heart. Study carefully the poses illustrated by the photographs and note that
all the exercises are performed while you are in a sitting or reclining
position. This is done to relieve your heart from undue strain as well as to
take advantage of the more normal (original) position of the visceral organs
of your body when in such positions. Contrary to exercises performed in an
upright position, those performed while you are in a recumbent position do
not aggravate any possible undetected organic weakness.
True heart control follows correct breathing which simultaneously reduces
heart strain, purifies the blood, and develops the lungs. To breathe
correctly you must completely exhale and inhale, always trying very hard to
"squeeze" every atom of impure air from your lungs in much the same manner
that you would wring every drop of water from a wet cloth.
When you stand erect again, the lungs will automatically completely refill
themselves with fresh air. This in turn supplies the bloodstream with vitally
necessary life-giving oxygen. Also, the complete exhalation and inhalation of
air stimulates all muscles into greater activity. Soon the entire body is
abundantly charged with fresh oxygen, a fact which makes itself instantly
known as the revitalized blood reaches the tips of your fingers and toes
similarly as the heat generated by a good head of steam in your boiler and
properly distributed by your radiators is felt in every room in your house.>
CONCLUSION
*** The huge morass of non-science, nonsense, non-sense, mythology, hype,
belief and fallacy which typifies the work of Pilates clearly shows that,
while many of his exercises may offer useful training for certain limited
purposes, his writings are replete with examples of highly limited ability,
education and intelligence. One wonders if all of those Pilates courses out
there stress that a great deal of Pilates' writings are filled with
inaccuracies, errors and unsubstantiated claims, so that they should be
replaced by a more acceptable body of more acceptable, up-to-date
information.
As it stands, the writings of Pilates constitute a rather primitive and
embarrassing foundation for any exercise system and it is high time that his
status as some sort of fitness demi-god were subjected to some balanced,
objective reasoning, rather than pop-idolish adulation.
---------------
Dr Mel C Siff
Denver, USA
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/
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