Pilates With Exercise Balls or Yoga Menu Verywell Fit Nutrition Weight Management Nutrition Facts Nutrition Basics Diets Meal Plans Meal Delivery Services View All News Fitness and Nutrition What to Buy How We Test Products Fitness Gear Nutrition Products Tools Recipe Nutrition Calculator Weight Loss Calorie Goal BMI Calculator Body Fat Percentage Calculator Calories Burned by Activity Daily Calories Burned Pace Calculator About Us Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Search Pilates Beginners Different Types of Fusion Pilates By Marguerite Ogle MS, RYT Marguerite Ogle MS, RYT Marguerite Ogle is a freelance writer and experienced natural wellness and life coach, who has been teaching Pilates for more than 35 years. Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 10, 2021 Reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by nutrition and exercise professionals. Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Kristin McGee, CPT Reviewed by Kristin McGee, CPT Kristin McGee is a certified personal trainer and currently teaches yoga and meditation for Peloton. She is also certified in Pilates and by the National Association of Sports Medicine. Learn about our Review Board Print altrendo images / Getty Images Pilates on an exercise ball. Pilates with fitness bands. Pilates with yoga. Pilates with tango dancing. Pilates in the pool. The list of Pilates practices fused with other activities goes on. But are we really still talking about Pilates when it's presented mostly in the context of a different exercise system? A large part of the Pilates community would say no, and a large part would say yes. Pilates' Roots Joseph Pilates developed a huge repertoire of exercises based on very specific movement principles. His exercises are done on an exercise mat or with one of the many pieces of equipment that he invented, such as the magic circle, Pilates chair, and reformer. That's close to the end of the story for many traditionalists in the Pilates world. However, as the Pilates method has influenced exercise science and vice versa, many new approaches and equipment types have found their way into Pilates training. When Does Fusion Pilates Cease to Be Pilates The critical question then becomes: How far away from traditional Pilates is too far away? If you take a class or buy a video that claims to be a fusion of Pilates and something else, say Pilates and ballroom dancing, but there are only two traditional Pilates exercises in the whole thing, is it still Pilates? What if they add core-strengthening work? If you do a Pilates on the ball class and the instructor has no more than a one-day "Pilates on the ball" certification from one of the many self-appointed certification businesses, are you going to get the benefits associated with doing Pilates correctly? While most Pilates-based instruction is excellent, some classes that combine Pilates with other equipment and traditions are so derivative that there is no real Pilates left in them, other than as a name or a marketing tool. Tips for Finding Quality Fusion Pilates So how do you know if you are getting a Pilates fusion experience that is giving you enough Pilates to make it worthwhile, especially if there is no traditional Pilates being taught? The 5 tips below will help you be a discerning client: The best solution is to know your Pilates. Take some Pilates classes, equipment or mat, with a fully certified Pilates instructor. Then move on to combining Pilates with other activities. At least you will have a feeling for the basics of Pilates movement, and you will be able to see those principles reflected in your fusion instructor—or not. Find out how much Pilates instruction your Pilates fusion teacher actually has. Don't settle for a one-day workshop. If your instructor is combining Pilates with something else, yoga or ballet, for example, they should be well trained in both. Look for the basics of Pilates-inspired instruction, such as an emphasis on the abdominals being pulled in supporting the core; length and alignment; exercise modifications; core stability including abs, shoulders, and pelvis; integrated breathing; and a sense of the Pilates principles. Ask yourself how you feel after a class. Are you getting the benefits that you associate with Pilates training? Do your limbs feel longer and do you feel taller? Are you getting strength without strain? Is your posture better, and is your breathing easy and full? Do you feel more flexible? Prepare yourself by reading more about Pilates exercise instructions to become a more discriminating practitioner. Debunking the 5 Biggest Myths About Pilates By Marguerite Ogle MS, RYT Marguerite Ogle is a freelance writer and experienced natural wellness and life coach, who has been teaching Pilates for more than 35 years. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Related Articles 10 Reasons You Should Start a Pilates Practice Best Online Pilates Classes of 2022 The 6 Best Online Barre Classes of 2022 How Pilates Works to Get You in Great Shape Pilates Classes for Beginners The Best Pilates Workout Schedule for You 12 Pilates Exercises to Work Your Core in 15 Minutes How to Design a Weight Loss Workout in Pilates The 8 Best Pilates Mats of 2022 Best Online Yoga Classes of 2022 How Many Calories Will I Burn Doing Pilates? 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