# Question about Pilates **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 25, 2002, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pilates/115916 "2002-06-25T17:48:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fluffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Fluffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fluffy)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pilates/115916/1 "2002-06-25T17:48:16Z")
For you expert Pilates Dopers, Can Pilates be alone with no other aerobics, weight training etc? I wonder if it can be used all by itself and still get you in pretty good shape. I would like to try it but I just wasn’t sure of this one aspect. Any help or tips on this would be appreciated!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![In\_Conceivable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@In\_Conceivable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Conceivable)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pilates/115916/2 "2002-06-25T18:06:35Z")
I took Pilates for awhile. I think that it depends a lot on what kind of Pilates you take. Mine class was mostly based on strength, toning and stretching. I didn’t get much of a cardio work out, but boy did it make my muscles stronger. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pilates/115916/3 "2002-06-25T18:15:30Z")
You’ll get stronger and more flexible with Pilates, but it’s not much good for building muscle mass, which is what you probably need to do to get in shape. Additionally, aerobic exercise (swimming, running, etc.) is probably better for burning fat. What’re your fitness goals? This might help us give you a better answer. ---
**Author:** ![Winnie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e480ec/32.png) [@Winnie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnie)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pilates/115916/4 "2002-06-25T18:54:39Z")
I agree that to get in shape/lose weight you’ll have to combine cardio with strength/toning. However I’ll note that since I’ve been using pilates in combination with running/cardio I’ve noticed more change in my muscle shape and toning than ever before. My abs have never felt more firm and toned, and I get a workout to my arms and legs even though I don’t realize it while I’m doing the tape. Good luck – pilates is excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Fluffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Fluffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fluffy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pilates/115916/5 "2002-06-26T12:51:49Z")
ultrafilter- Right now I am doing only The Firm tapes which combines weight training and aerobics. I would like to continue with this. Only thing that confuses me is that Pilates is supposed to create longer muscles while standard weight training creates shorter, bulkier ones. Just wondering what I would end up with if I did both. Would the muscles still be longer? I worry about over training the muscles. I always wait 48 hours between workouts to allow the muscles to recover. By the way, I only lift weights from 5 to 15 lbs. Nothing terribly heavy. I guess I’m just no sure how to incorporate the Pilates into my routine. I’m also trying to lose some weight so the aerobics are a must! ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pilates/115916/6 "2002-06-26T14:22:51Z")
AFAIK, your muscle length is fixed, and given that the length of your bones doesn’t change, it’s very hard for me to imagine that you can change your muscle length. It’s true that weightlifting has a negative impact on your flexibility, but that’s nothing that can’t be overcome with a decent stretching program–I stretch each muscle for 30 seconds before I lift with it, and I’ve become much more flexible ever since I started lifting. It’s not hard to believe that Pilates is good flexibility training, but it’s not the only method.