What do you think about all the new Pilates fusion classes?
Funny how I just taught a reformer class tonight and this thread popped up on my “following” feed.
It really is amazing how pilates principles can improve client alignment. The clients who take my pilates classes, as a group, move better on average than the clients who take other formats. In my pilates class where we work on spinal stability first and clients are really used to that feeling, I can give them a “fusion” exercise like a single leg balance with body bar row. They get it faster and with better alignment than a weight training class doing the same move.
My main goal, as it was when I contributed to this thread last year, is still to get people moving really well off of the reformer. So I still love the fusion class that is first based in pilates and then progresses from there. To me, it’s very effective.
The reverse is also true. I use other formats to improve clients’ pilates. For example, I like to use the MELT rebalance sequence to teach a client and have them really feel what it’s like to have tension in the ribs, diaphragm, and pelvis, how to decrease it, and then how to maintain that post-MELT improved posture while on the reformer.
Personally, I’m loving them. My background is in yoga, personal training, group exercise, and MELT, with additional specialized training on TRX, CrossCore, ViPR, BOSU, etc. I’ve only had my reformer certification for a year, so it’s my “youngest” training.
Pilates informs every other format that I teach. I love the breathing, the spinal stability, the ability to segment and move in isolation to really know what is driving specific movements. LOVE IT!!!
So, I use the reformer first in my classes, to get people moving really well. Then I do an analogous move that uses similar movement patterns but without the stability of the reformer. We don’t move on reformers all of the time, we move out in the regular world. So if I can move them on the reformer, then immediately teach them good movement without it, they move better in the “outside world.”
I love the idea of being open to see if it will open up to a larger audience.
I know this is not exactly the same thing but I remember when there was more separation with the different disciplines of martial arts. The history and culture meant more about 20 years ago.
This reminds me of when all the martial art disciplines were going through MMA combination. Most of the MMA centers I have personally seen lately will have a base martials arts to teach or 2 and put in MMA with it. Examples:
Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Tae Kwon Do, Kempo, Wrestling, Judo, Kickboxing, and others. All of these disciplines will be one or 2 together and then the MMA added. It seems to appeal to a wider audience.
I’ve been teaching a version for 2 years. Sometimes words keep people away. They tend to label a class. The term “fusion” also leaves room for instructors to include whatever they may find appropriate for the group. With Pilates, particularly, there are non-hardcore (for lack of a better word) people who love the abdominal/core work but also want/enjoy weight training and yoga stretches included in a class too. It just appeals to a larger group.