Pilates in Chicago: Not Your Father's Cadillac

Upon entering the Pilates studio at Body Endeavors one can be forgiven for mistaking it for a torture chamber designed by Ikea. The leather straps, steel springs, myriad harnesses and loops, and ominously named equipment like "Reformer" and "Spine Corrector" might give one pause before enrolling in a class. But don't be intimidated! Pilates is, in fact, a gentle, if energetic method of exercise.

Developed by Joseph H. Pilates, the training regimen has evolved over the last eighty years from its origins during World War I. Pilates, a German living in Great Britain, began studying fitness as a sickly teenager growing up in Düsseldorf. The Pilates Method began to take shape while Pilates was living in a British internment camp in Lancaster, where he led his fellow inmates in exercise and fitness training. After immigrating to the United States following the war, Pilates and his wife, Clara, opened a studio in New York City and began taking on students. Dancers George Balanchine and Martha Graham became early practitioners. He continued to teach until his death at age 87 in 1967.

Today, Pilates is rapidly growing in popularity. Many studios are available in the Chicago area. Located on Chicago's near north side "Clybourn Corridor," Body Endeavors opened its doors in 1997. The 2,600 square foot facility offers a pleasant, carpeted and brick-walled environment to take either of the two main types of Pilates: Mat and Cadillac.

A mat class might superficially resemble a yoga class. As the name implies, exercises are done on the floor on the same type of rubber mat one would use in yoga. The instructor, Barbara Katz, stands in front of my two fellow students and me, giving instruction and moving quickly from student to student, making adjustments. As with yoga (and pretty much all forms of exercise) getting the form right is crucial to getting the maximum benefit from the practice. The differences, however, quickly become apparent. First, and very much to my relief, new age music and incense are not part of this milieu. Second, the nature of the workout is different. "Yoga is only performed on the mat and tends to hold poses for periods of time to create strength and flexibility," say Body Endeavors owner Liv Berger. "Pilates tends to move and have repetitions of exercises to provide strength and flexibility."

Ms. Berger is quick to point out that the two disciplines are not in competition with each other. "They really are totally different disciplines, but both are good for almost anybody, if done safely and appropriately with a good instructor." Berger stresses the word "good." The popularity of Pilates has led to a shortage of qualified instructors.

The class lasts about 45 minutes. Within ten I am sweating freely. One other difference I quickly notice between Pilates and yoga is the names of exercises. Yoga names are often colorful; Pilates names are mundane and to-the-point. In Yoga you practice "Downward Dog," "Half Lord of the Fishes," and "One-Legged King Pigeon" poses. In Pilates you practice "Criss Cross," "Side Leg Lifts," and "Single Leg Stretch."

Ms. Katz moves efficiently between mats, correcting postures, coaxing proper form out of the class, taking into account the different levels of experience between the students. Breathing is stressed, as is precision in movement, and muscle-control. After 45 minutes I feel I've had a good workout!

Body Endeavors also offers private instruction. I return a couple weeks later to try this with instructor Laura Doughty. We begin the session on the mat. With the attention of the instructor focused totally on me I'm able to focus more on precision, control, and balance. Ms. Doughty leads me rapidly through a variety of exercises, requiring me to concentrate fully on each motion.

From the mat we move to a piece of equipment called the "Reformer." Slightly smaller than a twin bed, the Reformer has a bleached oak frame and a blue vinyl seat set on two metal rails that allow the seat to move forward and back. Beneath the seat are several springs that provide resistance for the exercises. A variety of bars and straps are used to hold positions on the device.

Despite my initial trepidation regarding the Reformer, I enjoy it! The movement on the device provides a pleasing sensation and the sounds created by the tension in the springs is soothing and a nice complement to the exercise.

From the Reformer we move to the "Cadillac", a larger device equiped with the usual chains, springs, and restraints. Doughty leads me through several additional exercises.

While not yet reaching the popularity level of Yoga (there are perhaps thirty Pilates studios in the Chicago area compared to more than 200 Yoga studios), Pilates is definitely broadening its reach and appeal. According to Liv Berger, Pilates "became "mainstream" about ten years ago when the trademark name "Pilates" was lost. It's now considered a generic term." She adds that now "anyone can say that they teach Pilates, even if nothing they teach resembles anything he created." She points out that at Body Endeavors they teach on "classical" Pilates. "I stay true to the original because I don't want to teach exercised that he did not create."

Pilates is also benefiting from the "celebrity circuit," according to Berger. Pop star Madonna is a practitioner (and even borrowed some of Berger's equipment when she was in the area on tour). Basketball star Jason Kidd, actress Jennifer Aniston, and golfer Phil Mickelson also do Pilates to stay in shape.

Body Endeavors is located at 1528 North Halsted Street in Chicago. A second location recently opened at the Wells Street Athletic Club at 1513 North Wells Street. The phone for both locations is 312-202-0028. They can be reached online at www.bodyendeavorspilates.com.

Other Pilates schools in the Chicago-area include:

Energy Fitness, Inc. Active Arts Center
4222 North Milwaukee, Chicago, Illinois
773-879-0063
www.energyfinessinc.com

Equability Pilates
7518 Madison Street, Forest Park, Illinois
708-366-3524
www.growinmotion.com

Pilates Plus of Schaumburg
1096 South Roselle Road, Schaumburg, Illinois
847-322-8767
www.pilatesmindbody.com

Essence Pilates
1629 West Montrose Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
773-404-8044
www.essencepilates.com

Fusion Mind/Body Studio
221 East Chicago Street, Elgin, Illinois
847-468-6012
www.fusionmindbody.com