Frequently Asked Questions ~ New To Pilates, GYROTONIC® / GYROKINESIS® Exercise

What do I need to wear or bring?

Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and be prepared to take your shoes off. Pilates, GYROTONIC and GYROKINESIS are practiced with bare or sock feet, (pedicures not required!) We’ll provide all of the equipment and props you may need. For your safety and everyone’s comfort, please keep jewelry and perfume to a minimum. Please bring a pair of clean socks (Toe Sox are for sale at our Studio), a bottle of water and a small hand towel.

What is the difference between the Modern Pilates that you teach and other forms of Pilates training?

Joseph Pilates designed the original series of exercises in the early 1900's. Even though his system was awesome, we have learned many things about how the body works since then. Classical Pilates (many times referred to as "The Method") promotes exercises in a flat back position. Joseph Pilates noticed that his children were born with no spinal curves (as are all children) and thought that as adults our spinal curves equaled bad posture. He thus set out to return the spine to this "original state" using exercises done in an "imprinted" position and with "chin to chest" to flatten the low back and neck curves.

We now know from current sports medicine and spinal rehabilitation research that spinal curves are necessary for a healthy spine. Too flat of a curve or too much of a curve can lead to pain, poor posture, compensation, and risk of injury or spinal degeneration. STOTT Pilates has been the leader is the "Modern" style which incorporates current exercise and therapy principles into the original series of exercises designed by Joseph Pilates, including contemporary thinking about spinal rehabilitation and performance enhancement, designed to restore the natural curves of the spine and rebalance the muscles around the joints. In addition, we place more emphasis on shoulder stabilization and neck placement as well as unique preparatory exercises and modifications to make Pilates safer and more effective...for everyone. Much as medicine, science, and modern life have evolved, Pilates has also evolved.

Why does it seem so expensive?

Sessions at the Studio are similar to hiring a personal trainer. Personal trainers charge rates similar to ours, but most have only a fraction of our training. Personal trainers working at your local gym do not own the equipment they are using, nor are they responsible for the overhead and upkeep of a training space.

The individual attention you receive in our sessions, our beautiful private studio, combined with the advanced level of training of our instructors and the uniqueness (and expense) of our full array of Professional Pilates and GYROTONIC equipment (and on-going training) makes all the difference. Remember: You get what you pay for!

What about books, DVD's, and the equipment that is for sale at stores and on the web? Can't I just learn Pilates at home?

Many of our clients came to us originally saying that they had been doing Pilates in large group community classes (15 to 30 folks per class) or with a video for a year/month/etc. After completing just one session, they tell us that they learned more in that one session about how to use their muscles properly than all of the time with the class or video! Part of the reason is that a good Pilates session should work with your individual needs. If you have a "bad back," for example, we will give you modifications that will help you to improve faster, while keeping you safe.

Learning Pilates, or any Movement Art, from a book or DVD is like trying learning a foreign language the same way. The DVD cannot correct you, explain things in a way that you understand, or make a session custom tailored to meet your individual needs and goals.

Once you have learned the basics of Pilates, we are quite happy to have you work at home as well. We encourage our clients to learn a mini mat routine they can do at home to supplement their sessions with us.

Some clients come to us with the sole goal of learning Pilates properly and effectively in order to do their own workouts at home. We are quite skilled in helping clients develop home programs ranging from simple matwork with props (stretch bands, balls, small weights) to home programs on Pilates equipment. We can even help you pick out the right equipment for you and your budget and your space.

Our primary goal is to have each client experience Pilates safely and to reap the benefits of Pilates as an All Gain with No Pain Movement Art.

I have a bad back (or other injury/limitation). Will I be able to do Pilates or GYROTONIC?

Although you should always consult your physician before starting any exercise regime, Pilates and GYROTONIC workouts are gentle and controlled with no sudden jarring actions. It is also VERY IMPORTANT that you work with an instructor who has had specific training in the therapeutic applications of these Movement Arts to ensure that you are doing the movements correctly for your specific condition. An experienced instructor will be able to modify the exercises to accommodate your limitations, and continually challenge you within your range and monitor your improvements. If you commit yourself to a consistent workout schedule you will certainly feel results. At the Pilates Center of Kona and GYROTONIC Kona our owners are also Licensed Manual / Massage therapists with years of advanced training who specialize in working with chronic and acute pain and/or injuries.

Can I do Pilates or GYROTONIC while pregnant?

If you have been a regular Pilates participant before your pregnancy, then yes you can continue, providing you follow your doctor's and your certified Instructor's advice. We will modify your workout as you go through the different trimesters. Our staff has received special training in how to modify Pilates specifically for pregnancy.

If you wish to start a Pilates program for the first time, we will insist that you wait 6 to 8 weeks post partum. Pilates works at such a deep level in the abdominal region that adding this type of new exercise may cause complications, and that is simply not a risk we are willing to take - and neither should you.

GYROTONIC exercise, on the other hand, is an excellent choice and is safe for women during all stages of pregnancy with no prior experience necessary.

Do I need to make a reservation for class?

Yes! We ask that you sign up for your class(es) online if possible, space is limited and preference is given to those with reservations. You are encouraged to arrive a few minutes before class to settle in and fully arrive. If this is your first class so you’ll need to fill out registration and waiver forms, so come earlier. Please turn off your cell phones and pagers, and remove your shoes in the lobby. Also, if we are not expecting you, and the class cancels for some reason, we would not know to phone you.

I’m not flexible, can I still do Pilates, GYROTONIC or GYROKINESIS?

Absolutely!  The key is to honor your body. Our Studio is a non-competitive environment where we encourage you to simply accept where you are at, with no judgment. Our skilled instructors may be able to bend over backwards, but they’ll do so to help you, not intimidate you! No frustration, just gratitude.

What if I can’t do something the rest of the class can?

Then breathe and modify. We offer private lessons and classes for all experience levels and if you encounter a movement or sequence that you are not quite ready for, focus on your breath and ask your instructor for modifications. (Odds are someone else feels just like you!) You may always go into a simple resting position on the equipment, or child’s pose or mountain in GYROKINESIS class. Remember, this is your practice and no one else’s. Honor your body and in time you’ll master the movements and move into more challenging patterns.

What if I have an injury or medical condition?

Pilates, GYROTONIC and GYROKINESIS have many proven health benefits; physical, emotional and spiritual. However, before you start any exercise program you should talk to your doctor or health care provider. It is also essential that you communicate any and all pre-existing medical conditions or injuries to your instructor before class so certain exercises can be modified to accommodate your needs. Many of our instructors have specific training in working with a variety of health conditions and injuries. Contact us and we will help you find the instructor who is right for you!

Do Pilates, GYROTONIC and GYROKINESIS really help manage stress?

Yes! Pilates, GYROTONIC and GYROKINESIS can provide wonderful relief from stress. These systems are a complete union of mind, body and spirit and promote mental clarity and calmness, enhances self-awareness and creates an overall sense of well being. These systems are often prescribed by health care providers for the relief of stress as well as an aid for a variety of other health concerns (including high blood pressure, osteoporosis, back pain, fibromyalgia, and tension headaches).

I want to lose weight and gain strength. Can Pilates, GYROTONIC and/or GYROKINESIS help with that?

Yes! All of our Pilates, GYROTONIC and GYROKINESIS sessions, from beginner to advanced (practiced regularly) can help you lose weight and gain strength. Our classes are a combination of breath work and movement enabling you to increase your metabolism and burn calories. (You will sweat ~ especially in GYROKINESIS!) The inner and energetic focus you’ll gain in GYROTONIC and GYROKINESIS will help you be more mindful of what you are eating and how you are treating your body outside of class. And the internal strength and core stability you'll learn in Pilates will help keep you active all day. In addition, regular practice of any of these great systems improves muscle tone, flexibility and your posture helping you to look leaner.