Pilates & the Church

[mom4truth]

I don’t know where to post this: is Pilates against the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church? My daughter would like to try this form of exercise, but I want to make sure it is in agreement with the Holy Father and the Magisterium. Please help …

 

[JimR-OCDS]

No, its not against the teachings of the Church. Pilates is exercise and good for you.

Jim

 

[mom4truth]

jim:

are you sure? I read it was similar to Reiki which I know is not acceptable to the church. Just want to make sure! Thanks!

 

[JimR-OCDS]

jim:

are you sure? I read it was similar to Reiki which I know is not acceptable to the church. Just want to make sure! Thanks!

It has nothing to do with Reiki.

The Pilates Method (or simply Pilates), pronounced /pɪˈlɑ:ti:z/ is a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates.[1] As of 2005 there are 11 million people who practice the discipline regularly and 14,000 instructors in the United States.[2]

Pilates called his method Contrology, because he believed his method uses the mind to control the muscles.[3] The program focuses on the core postural muscles which help keep the body balanced and which are essential to providing support for the spine. In particular, Pilates exercises teach awareness of breath and alignment of the spine, and aim to strengthen the deep torso muscles. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilates

Haven’t you ever seen it on TV?

Jim

 

[mom4truth]

jim:

Yes, I’ve seen it on TV but I don’t know the history of Pilates or from what it originated. (Believe it or not, I don’t live under a rock).
Thanks, Jim!

 

[beckycmarie]

Hi mom4truth,

This question came up on the Spiritual Warfare Q&A over on saint-mike.org. I don’t know how much this will help since there isn’t a clear black or white answer on it; but the answers do give guidelines. Avoid exercises that are intended to bring about an altered state of conscious, such as yoga (which no Christian should ever do, even if it is “just for the exercise.”)

pilates exercises…
Pilates info…
Re: Pilates exercies (8/29)…

 

[vocatio]

Hi mom4truth,

This question came up on the Spiritual Warfare Q&A over on saint-mike.org. I don’t know how much this will help since there isn’t a clear black or white answer on it; but the answers do give guidelines. Avoid exercises that are intended to bring about an altered state of conscious, such as yoga (which no Christian should ever do, even if it is “just for the exercise.”)

That sounds a bit scrupulous to me. Yoga without the spiritual side of it is just a form of excercise.

 

[revelations]

That sounds a bit scrupulous to me. Yoga without the spiritual side of it is just a form of excercise.

I’ve been doing some stretches for years without ever knowing they were “yoga” stretches. They just loosen me up real good!

 

[beckycmarie]

That sounds a bit scrupulous to me. Yoga without the spiritual side of it is just a form of excercise.

I’d like to refer you to this spiritual warfare discussion:

Priest on the dangers of yoga, occult

But if you don’t have time to read the whole thing, here’s one of the highlights:

Yoga itself is not “just an exercise.” The very design, the postures and movements, are all designed according to a Hindu cosmology and are designed to place one in an altered state of consciousness, to open on up to the “energies” within the body and in the universe. This is what is meant by becoming “more aware of your body, mind and environment” mentioned by the Yogi master in the article.

Yoga cannot be performed without this effect regardless of whether or not one intends this effect.

 

[Sheeniac]

Pilates was originally called contrology. It is focused on body awareness and doesn’t have a spiritual side.

 

[kind_bean]

As long as you practice yoga or pilates simply as exercise and nothing more, it is not a sin. I have done yoga for years and recently started pilates. They are wonderful for your body. Some people may get into a spiritual meditation (mainly in yoga) during some of the exercises at the end of a workout, but you certainly don’t have to. If you attend a class where they do this, you can use this time to pray, but mostly they are just trying to get you to focus on your body and how it feels so that you are more aware of it. By aware, I mean how your body feels during and after the workout. This helps you retain better posture and symmetry throughout the day (which is good for your spine).

 

[puzzleannie]

jim:

are you sure? I read it was similar to Reiki which I know is not acceptable to the church. Just want to make sure! Thanks!

it has nothing whatever to do with Reiki or yoga, where did you read this? what is the source?

 

[SedesDomi]

Pilates…is focused on body awareness…

Sounds like Zen meditation.

 

[mom4truth]

Thanks everyone. Actually, I’ve forgotten where I read that it was similar to Reiki!

 

[puzzleannie]

Sounds like Zen meditation.

very little, natural childbirth also focuses on body awareness-should we all go back to using drugs? in order to use your muscles and body effectively in every endeavor you have to be aware and conscious to improve your level and advance. you have to be aware of your technique even in walking if you want to improve your posture, gait, speed, avoid injury and get more out of your morning walk. That does not make you a Buddhist. Some of those monks also fast give alms and pray. should we cease those practices?

 

[beckycmarie]

As long as you practice yoga or pilates simply as exercise and nothing more, it is not a sin. I have done yoga for years and recently started pilates. They are wonderful for your body. Some people may get into a spiritual meditation (mainly in yoga) during some of the exercises at the end of a workout, but you certainly don’t have to. If you attend a class where they do this, you can use this time to pray, but mostly they are just trying to get you to focus on your body and how it feels so that you are more aware of it. By aware, I mean how your body feels during and after the workout. This helps you retain better posture and symmetry throughout the day (which is good for your spine).

Kind Bean, refer to post #9. Pilates may be okay, but Yoga is not - even if you think you’re doing it “just for the exercise.”

 

[whatevergirl]

As long as you practice yoga or pilates simply as exercise and nothing more, it is not a sin. I have done yoga for years and recently started pilates. They are wonderful for your body. Some people may get into a spiritual meditation (mainly in yoga) during some of the exercises at the end of a workout, but you certainly don’t have to. If you attend a class where they do this, you can use this time to pray, but mostly they are just trying to get you to focus on your body and how it feels so that you are more aware of it. By aware, I mean how your body feels during and after the workout. This helps you retain better posture and symmetry throughout the day (which is good for your spine).

agreed–there are also different forms of yoga, that take on a more religious/spiritual aspect leaning towards eastern cultures, but if you use yoga and pilates for exercise, it’s perfectly fine.

I actually would like to purchase a Pilates machine…anyone use those?

 

[beckycmarie]

agreed–there are also different forms of yoga, that take on a more religious/spiritual aspect leaning towards eastern cultures, but if you use yoga and pilates for exercise, it’s perfectly fine.

I actually would like to purchase a Pilates machine…anyone use those?

Once again, Yoga is NOT okay. It doesn’t matter what your intention is when you do it.

 

[mom4truth]

Hi everyone!

Do we know for a FACT that Pilates is in agreement with the Holy Father and Magisterium? Or are we just speculating? Thanks everyone!

 

[JimR-OCDS]

beckycmarie

Once again, Yoga is NOT okay.

This is your opinion, and not supported with facts.

It doesn’t matter what your intention is when you do it. People have put themselves in spiritual danger by participating in it -

I find this statement a little far fetched, but its probable, that they weren’t doing yoga exercise alone, but going into new age spirituality that has little to with what we’re talking about here.

I’ve been doing yoga exercise for the past 12 years. I know priest who are Discalced Carmelites and Benedictines, who do yoga and have said exactly what people here are saying. The exercises themselves are not harmful as long as you’re not getting into spiritual aspects that are not Christian. However even there, when I hear an instructor says that while in corpse pose, focus on something beautiful, I focus on Jesus.

some of those people have sought help from the St. Pio Center for Deliverance Counseling as a result of demonization caused by participation in Yoga.

Most likely it is that they had problems which had little to do with yoga exercise and may have even had emotional problems before ever starting yoga. Most people who I’ve read about who had problems, weren’t Christians before getting into their new age group, but were people looking for an easy form of spirituality.

In other words, we’re not talking about well grounded Christians who are able to discern between yoga exercise and some other spirituality that they have no desire to be part of.

Jim