Today I want to talk about Pilates Open mind. Are you  faithful or adulterous?

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Pilates Open Mind, what do I mean? What I want to ask you is being faithful to one Pilates system for life a good thing or not? I have asked this question before in a previous blog, but this is an interesting question so I am asking it again today.

Let me rewind a little. I first asked this question some time ago and I was reminded of this whilst checking my emails after the end of another PilatesEVO online coaching session for one of my PilatesEVO Foundation Education students. My inbox was once again full of the usual spam emails that none of us like getting (from buying a flight simulator to how to cure toe fungus so all pretty useful really), but I accept that if we put ourselves out there in the virtual world of social media, websites, blogs etc., then we can hardly complain too loudly when someone picks up our details and contacts us. Besides, I teach in PilatesEVO about mindfulness mediation and the fact that nothing can annoy us in life unless we give it the power to annoy us.

So when spam email happens to me (and it does around 150 times every day), I really do not let it spoil my day, I just let it pass. Spamming (did you know the phrase “spam” comes from the Monty Python sketch first published in 1970? An English sense of humour is required!) has been going on for ever just in different forms. I reply if think it’s worthy, or I simply lift my finger and press the delete button. My blood pressure doesn’t change and neither does my mood.

Ok, I digress, let me get back to the title of my blog, Pilates Open Mind.

The purpose for this foray into cyber-land etiquette is that in my inbox (among the spam) was a message from one of my PilatesEVO master-trainers from Europe. Whilst promoting a PilatesEVO© education, she was in contact with a Pilates teacher in London. I decided to write this article not so much because the Pilates teacher in question wrote back to a perfectly polite email in an incredibly rude and disingenuous way, it was more about what she said. Her words were that didn’t my colleague realise who she was, and that she had been affiliated to the same school of Pilates for more than 15 years and she would never ever even think about learning any other form of Pilates because her way was the only way.

Whilst I wonder how anyone who can write such an email can possibly be an open, good, professional teacher, we all know there are many systems of Pilates, and no doubt we have our favourite which is probably the one we studied first. But the purpose of my article today is to ask the question is being totally faithful to one Pilates system for life a good thing or not?

My opinion is that it absolutely is not. Whether you like my PilatesEVO© system or any other system that is not your “usual” system, I totally respect your opinion. This article is not about the rights or wrongs of different systems. But to never try anything else is like saying that Ford is the best manufacturer of cars when all you have owned is a Ford. How can you even have an opinion? Even if you do not buy another car, at least take a few test drives!

“Boundaries protect us, but we pay for that protection. People with too many boundaries experience anxieties as they wonder how they will survive the threat to their existence, most of which are imaginary. If you perceive yourself as separate from the rest of the world then you can take some comfort in this, but it comes with a down side. When you see yourself as separate, you will experience yourself as a single and separate life that needs protection in order to survive. You become alienated from the world by that world of separateness. This can come in many forms; recently it can be argued that Brexit and the great wall of Mexico are examples of similar feelings.” Chris Hunt, PilatesEVO Foundation Education

I believe that diversity in life and diversity in training and experience is what makes the best teachers, and those who have an insular attitude are missing out on potentially interesting and informative ideas that could complement or even add to their favourite way of teaching. I know Pilates schools that actively discourage their pupils from going over to the “dark side” and trying another school. What exactly are they afraid of? Are they so insecure about their method, or just afraid that one of their disciples might find a different system a revelation? I cannot see any negative reason for not being open minded about how and what other people teach. At the very least it might confirm to you that your system is the best one for you, but there is also a very high chance that you might just learn something new that will make you a better teacher.

I always try to keep an open mind. I always except that I do not know everything (you should avoid at all costs anyone who ever tells you that they do because they are fools) and there is always room for new experiences and knowledge.

What’s your opinion? Have you always only practised one form of Pilates training? If so, then why? Who out there can speak of positive experiences from trying other types? I’d love your opinions and thoughts. You can comment on this blog or email me at evole@pilatesevo.com.

Chris Hunt PilatesEVO

Chris Hunt is a Pilates and functional training presenter and educator based in London and at the PilatesEVO School in Barcelona, Spain. He is the creator of Pilates EVO.  For more information about PilatesEVO training online or training with Chris in Barcelona, please click on www.pilatesevo.com.