pilates mixing it up
Can clubs broaden their appeal by combining pilates with other fitness disciplines? Neena Dhillon considers the arguments
P
ilates is one of the great growth stories of the UK fitness industry in recent years. But how can clubs
continue to attract newcomers while retaining the loyalty of existing enthusiasts at the same time? As with many holistic fi tness methods,
it’s worth turning to the US to identify how the practice is diversifying. IDEA Health & Fitness Association’s mind- body exercise spokesperson Shirley Archer comments: “Pilates participation has increased almost 500 per cent in
America over the past 10 years, but this is slowing as the novelty wears off. While clubs have fl ourished during the recent pilates boom, they must evolve to maintain interest.” One of the areas they’re moving into
is the fusion of pilates with other fi tness disciplines: “Fusion programmes are fuelling interest in pilates and bringing in a wider range of participants,” says Archer.
defining fusion So what does ‘fusion pilates’ encompass, and how does it work? While it isn’t
unusual to see small gym props, such as Swiss balls, being incorporated into mat-based classes, fusion goes one step further, embracing other fitness equipment or principles that are not typically part of a pilates workout. In San Diego, CoreAlign master
instructor Portia Page, who also serves on the Balanced Body University Faculty, runs fusion classes in several locations, including at the 24Hour Fitness chain. She has adopted a circuit-type approach, mixing cardiovascular work on a treadmill or bike with exercises on a mat or reformer, or merging mat-based pilates with combinations of gym kit including a Bosu, foam roller, hand weights and Togu ball. Typically with mat fusion, participants
move in a circuit every two minutes from one station to another, all of which are equipped differently, to complete a variety of pilates exercises. “Fusion gives members the chance
to try other types of workout and to diversify the conditioning they can achieve in a limited time,” says Page. “I’ve seen this format attract a more diverse community than traditional pilates, especially men who are enticed by the idea of a treadmill or weights component.” New York-based club Crunch features
an array of fusion classes, including: a mat-based session that incorporates the Bosu for added resistance; ‘Burn & Firm’, which combines pilates-inspired standing moves with hand weights and body bars to target the large muscle groups; and ‘Shred Pilates’, comprising 20 minutes of group cycling followed by a move to the pilates or group fi tness studio for 40 minutes on a reformer or mat. Explaining why the chain introduced
fusion, national pilates director Michele Bastos says: “Our members can now cover all aspects of their workout routine in one location at Crunch, unlike a pilates studio. They’ve come to realise that our pilates instructors are as knowledgeable as those in a specialist pilates studio and they appreciate that mat-based classes are free with their membership.” Indeed, as more Crunch members have become exposed to the multiple
At Crunch, fusion sessions help maintain interest in ‘pure’ reformer classes
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“Fusion gives members the chance to diversify their
conditioning in a limited time” Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital august 2010 © cybertrek 2010
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