Pilates put the 'I' in fitness: Individualized routines can help improve strength, breathing and more

It's the perennial workout dilemma: The spirit is willing, but the flesh is not quite up for CrossFit.

Some people are able to forge through the first awkward months of an exercise regimen, but results can often be elusive, and many others become discouraged before the results appear.

Pilates may be the happy medium you're looking for, says Christin Sharrock, who teaches Pilates classes at HealthPoint Fitness.

"People who go to CrossFit and things of that nature have a certain level of existing fitness," she explains. "Whereas Pilates can be utilized at the level you're at, regardless of where that is."

She says one of the biggest factors that draws people to Pilates is that it can be individualized far more than other exercise disciplines.

Students stretch out during their pilates class Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015, at Fitness Plus in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

"Not to say that fit people don't do Pilates," she says. "They do. But every movement in Pilates can be modified to all levels."

What this means for the average exercise enthusiast is that you spend less gym time wallowing in misguided barbell envy and more time getting your body in shape.

Dianne Lawrence, assistant manager of health and fitness and Pilates instructor at Fitness Plus in Cape Girardeau, says one of the things that plagues people of all fitness levels is poor balance, an area that Pilates targets specifically.

"A lot of people assume our bodies are symmetrical, that what's on the left is the same as what's on the right," Lawrence says. "But that's not always the case. For some people, they tilt their feet in when they're walking, and most people's dominant side is stronger. That creates an imbalance."

This individuality, Sharrock says, makes Pilates a more effective exercise regimen than slaving away, trying to out-crunch the person next to you.

"If we're being honest, when we exercise, most people are going in in order to lose the belly," she says. "They want to lose the abdominal bulge or the muffin top, but Pilates in particular offers almost instant gratification in the form of increased flexibility, which is what people want: results."

The positions in Pilates, she explains, are designed to promote strength and flexibility, as well as breathing and body awareness, all of which can help you in other activities: like golf.

"I have several gentlemen who golf that come in," Sharrock says. "It helps give them flexibility in their muscles and their trunk. Now they've got more rotation in their spine."

The low-impact nature of the exercises also makes it ideal for patients in recovery, older people and pregnant women.

"There are a lot of advantages [to practicing Pilates] for pregnant women," she says. "They're able to do a workout that's low impact, but also one that emphasizes breathing, coordination and balance. It can make the delivery go smoother as well as making the recovery easier."

But Lawrence emphasizes the importance of guidance while practicing Pilates. A quick discussion about medical history can help an instructor spot you better, thus maximizing the effectiveness of your workout. Because in Pilates, it all comes back to an individualized workout, Sharrock explains.

"I don't know if there is even an 'average' person when it comes to fitness," she says. "It's great to tone and is one of the best exercises for core strengthening, but it only works if you do."