PILATES
Trending NOW?
In the seventh annual ACSM fi tness survey, which polls industry professionals for their views on exercise trends for the coming year, pilates – previously a regular entry on the list – failed to make the top 20 for a third consecutive year. So is the exercise technique falling out of favour, and if so, why? Kate Cracknell asks the experts
GLENN WITHERS
Founding director, APPI Health Group
t’s a shame that pilates appears to be losing its steam in the ACSM list of fitness trends – but actually, pilates is not a fitness trend. I feel the explosion of pilates in gyms may have led it to be portrayed as such, with a slight watering- down of the technique, but in fact it’s a solid, consistent form of exercise that’s still experiencing great growth around the
I
Pilates: Less a trend, more a lifelong exercise choice
world. Certainly in our centres, overall participation rates continue to increase. I would question the growth of pilates in gyms though, and certainly don’t believe its future rests solely in fi tness-specifi c environments. Pilates is very multi-faceted – it’s equally suitable for health centres, medical centres, rehab centres, old age facilities etc – so it’s less reliant on being included in fi tness trend listings. Having said all that, I do feel the pilates industry needs to wake up and ensure it’s continuing to be innovative and inclusive. For example, APPI is launching a new programme this year – Performance
Pilates – which uses pilates as a performance booster targeted at specifi c sports and populations, using functional movements to create a new workout around pilates moves. This approach will energise the sector and help redefi ne what pilates can be used for. I also believe the fi tness industry needs to do more to prove its effectiveness – something those in the pilates sector are well-placed to do. If we can get some great studies proving what a difference pilates can make in different areas, gyms may yet see the technique back on the list of hot trends for the future.
50 Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital
March 2013 © Cybertrek 2013
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