Pilates: An Orthodox view

[Yiannis550]

Hello guys and girls,

I have been searchign to find a nice book to guide me to exercise a little bit because I have become a couch potato lately, and I was wondering about Pilates. All I know is that it is created by a half german, half greek gymnast called Joseph Pilates and that it combines physical exercise with controlled breathing or somethign liek that, but it is very effective in becoming fit easily and quickly. It is definately very popular in the UK, but I worry that it may be related to yoga and eastern pagan practices. I have been searching around and from websites I found it seems it depends on the instructor. Some of them do combine yoga and pilates techniques as they come from a yoga background but others are "pure" pilates instructors and do not do that.

I would like to know what is the Orthodox opinion on this.

Thanks a lot,

Kind regads,

 

[icxn]

Δοκίμασε το τζαι άμα ο δάσκαλός σου αρχίσει να λαλεί πελλάρρες για σωματικές ενέργειες τζαι πράσινα άλογα παρέτα τα.

Ελπίζω να μεν εξέχασες τα Κυπριακά σου.

 

[Protoevangel]

Δοκίμασε το τζαι άμα ο δάσκαλός σου αρχίσει να λαλεί πελλάρρες για σωματικές ενέργειες τζαι πράσινα άλογα παρέτα τα.

Ελπίζω να μεν εξέχασες τα Κυπριακά σου.

Something about teachers, energy, green horses, and Cyprus?

 

[Yiannis550]

Χαχά! Ποττέ εξήχασα τα;

Translation of icxn: "Try it and if the instructor starts talking nonsense about body energy and green horses, then quit.
I hope you haven't forgotten your Cypriot dialect"

No I haven't. I wasn't expecting an answer in Cypriot

Basically I was thinking in about the same lines. However I wanted a second opinion, especially from Orthodox people that may have tried this, or had advice from a good spiritual father who knows these things?

I am trying to find out if is just a form of exercise or if it has connections with the wrong spiritual world...

 

[Protoevangel]

From what I understand, pilates is purely an exercise form, with no direct or intentional spiritual ties to any religious philosophy.

That is not to say that those who market pilates do not incorporate their own "spirituality" into their curriculum. Discernment is key, but I personally see no reason to reject it out-of-hand..


Disclaimer: I have read about pilates, known some people who practice it, but am by no means an expert. I am open to correction, if I err.

 

[Philothei]

Ti einai oi pelareV , pilateV? ca ca ca.....

Eiste kai oi duo Kuprioi?

Ti douleia ecoun oi pilateV me thn orqodoxia? MaV douleuete mou fainete.... .



Filoqeh....

 

[icxn]

Ti einai oi pelareV , pilateV? ca ca ca.....

Eiste kai oi duo Kuprioi?

Ti douleia ecoun oi pilateV me thn orqodoxia? MaV douleuete mou fainete.... .

Filoqeh....

Άμαν αρκέψουν οι Τζυπραίοι να συντυχάνουν τα Ομηρικά τους οι Καλαμαράες εν καταλαμβαίνουν γρύ.

 

[Monica child of God 1]

I want to understand what you all are saying

M.

 

[Philothei]

Άμαν αρκέψουν οι Τζυπραίοι να συντυχάνουν τα Ομηρικά τους οι Καλαμαράες εν καταλαμβαίνουν γρύ.

Mporei na mh milaw ta tzimpreika alla ta katalabainw...cacaca.... KalwV hrqate kai elpizw na meinete suntecnoi...

Filoqeh, h Aqhnaia

 

[Philothei]

We are just joking around... no worries Iwas asking what do the pilates have to do with orthodoxy?.... I think it is a funny question...

 

[Philothei]

Where is Greg when you need him... He speaks Cypriot...

 

[Thekla]

Pilate is NOT a saint in the EOChurch







(sorry, someone had to say it)

 

[Yiannis550]

My question is not whether pilates has anything to do with Orthodoxy. It is rather if it has anything to do with yoga and what ever else is associated with that (paganist spirituality).
I just hope it is just an exercise method because from what I here from non Orthodox British friends friends it is very effective to get fit quickly and I would like to try it.

 

[Philothei]

I think it is related to the 'western' trend of excercise... not eastern at all....

that is what I found:

http://www.pilates.com/BBAPP/V/about/joseph-pilates.html

I personally think it is just another excercise method taken from a European instructor.

It does not have any 'philosophy' rooted in Eastern religions... rather it is a healthy excercise systerm. I have a CD of Pilates with Yoga. I find it to be somewhat 'boring' and that is why I do treadmill and sometimes use an aerobics' CD...

P.S.sorry for joking earlier, did not mean to sound mean or anything...

Philothei

 

[Mary of Bethany]

I've done some Pilates at home, on my own. There is no "spiritual" teaching/connection with it at all. It's strictly physiological, and I think it's a very good exercise regimen.

Mary

 

[Greg the byzantine]

Where is Greg when you need him... He speaks Cypriot...

It's so funny to see cypriot written out. I went to Greek school so I've only seen written Greek, but I can definitely figure out the written cypriot, just by pronouncing it.

My spelling and grammar have gone downhill since I've been out of Greek school. I probably couldn't write Greek even if I wanted to now, but at least I can still read and understand it.

BTW that's not even village cypriot, that's a whole other beast altogether. To give you a taste, my relatives pronounce my name ?????? (bah I can never get greek letters) Glhorh

 

[Philothei]

It's so funny to see cypriot written out. I went to Greek school so I've only seen written Greek, but I can definitely figure out the written cypriot, just by pronouncing it.

My spelling and grammar have gone downhill since I've been out of Greek school. I probably couldn't write Greek even if I wanted to now, but at least I can still read and understand it.

BTW that's not even village cypriot, that's a whole other beast altogether. To give you a taste, my relatives pronounce my name ?????? (bah I can never get greek letters) Glhorh

I do understand it when it is "light" like you said ... and not all of it is Homeric either...