I don't do Pilates to get strong

I'm hearing lots of discussion around strength training lately, especially for peri and post-menopausal women. It seems that lifting weights is the new focus, and building strength is the main goal. Which gets me me thinking about strength, and what strong means to me.

Depending on your base-line level of fitness, starting Pilates will definitely build strength initially. But, there's a limit to the amount of load that can be generated by practicing Pilates, even using the apparatus such as the reformer. Unless you start adding external weight, eventually you'll max out the spring tension or body weight load you can use. And you know what? That's ok.

When I say I don't do Pilates to get strong, I mean in the traditional sense of the word. As in, being able to lift more weight, do more pushups, etc. I've been practicing Pilates for 18 years, and for a large portion of that, I would say I have been at a plateau in terms of strength. That doesn't bother me.

That doesn't mean that I'm not progressing in Pilates, it's just that the progression is not necessarily in terms of strength. I have been mastering new skills, increasing challenge in other ways such as complexity, control or coordination. These are different to strength, but no less valuable. I'm progressing in understanding my own body. I constantly learn things about my own patterns and areas for improvement.

I do Pilates as body maintenance, as self care. Pilates promotes mobility, it cares for the joints, it feels amazing. Pilates screams longevity. Getting up and down off the floor with ease feels strong to me. There's a sense of internal resilience, of feeling taller, but at the same time also grounded.

Don't get me wrong, I do want to be strong. I'm certainly interested in building more strength now that I'm in my 40s, and have recently started kettlebell workouts and am trying to add more impact work for bone density. Pilates can't do everything, and nor should it try. Pilates brings its own set of benefits that are hard to replicate elsewhere, but it also has it's limitations. It all depends on the goals of the individual.

As far as I'm concerned, no matter what the focus, what the goal, Pilates will always be a part of my routine. If you're interested in experiencing the unique benefits of Pilates, join me for my next matwork course.