The Workout Everyone Thinks Is Pilates…Until They Take It

We talk a lot about the results our clients get at Core (LP).

We talk about getting stronger. Building muscle. Improving core strength. Supporting your running. Training without beating up your joints. Feeling better in your body.

But what actually…is the workout? Maybe you’ve looked at our machines and assume you know what you're getting.

It's a reformer, so it's Pilates. And if it's Pilates, it can't really be strength training. Right?

Wrong.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions I hear, and I think it's worth explaining exactly what we're doing when you walk into a Core (LP) session.

Because yes, it looks different from traditional strength training.

But different doesn't mean less effective.

So what actually is Pilates-inspired strength training?

At Core (LP) Berkley + Rochester Hills , we're using reformer-style machines, resistance, controlled movement, and instability to challenge your muscles. Plus we work on the core tremendously. That's the Pilates-inspired part.

But the goal isn't simply to improve your flexibility or work on your posture. We're trying to make you stronger.

Your muscles don't care whether the resistance came from a dumbbell, a cable, a spring, or a machine. They care that they're being challenged, progress, and adapt over time. That's exactly what we're doing in class, and that’s the literal definition of strength training.

You're working against resistance while controlling your body through the movement. You're spending a lot of time under tension. You're stabilizing while you move. You're constantly having to control the carriage and the resistance instead of letting momentum take over.

And your coach is there the entire time watching how you're moving and making adjustments.

That's a strength workout.

But it's low impact.

Yes. and that's one of the reasons I love it. Low impact doesn't mean low intensity. It means we're not relying on jumping, running, or repetitive impact to make a workout challenging. You can work incredibly hard without pounding your joints for 50 minutes.

That's especially valuable for people who already get a lot of impact from running, playing sports, or other activities.

It's also one of the reasons I see so many people who have spent years doing other forms of exercise find this workout surprisingly challenging (and effective)

Your cardiovascular system isn't the only thing that can get tired. Your muscles can too. And when you're holding a movement, controlling the resistance, and working for longer periods of time, you'll feel that pretty quickly.

Why are the movements so slow?

This is probably one of the first things people notice. We're not rushing through 20 reps just to get them done. We're controlling the movement. Because when you slow down, you can't rely on momentum to get you through the exercise. You actually have to control the resistance, stabilize your body, and pay attention to your alignment.

Plus you have to keep working when your muscles start telling you they're done. That's part of why you might shake.

At Core (LP), the goal is to find that shake because thats when your muscles are working hard and you're asking them to maintain control. And yes, sometimes you'll be staring at the clock wondering how there can possibly still be three minutes left.

There are.

Can Pilates-inspired strength training actually replace traditional strength training?

For many people, absolutely. This is something I think the fitness industry makes unnecessarily complicated.

If your goal is to get stronger, build muscle, improve muscular endurance, move better, and create a consistent strength-training routine, you have options. You don't have to lift a barbell to be strong.

You also don't have to choose between “Pilates” and “strength training.”

That's actually one of the reasons I created Core (LP).

I wanted to take the parts of this style of training that I loved—the control, the precision, the deep core work, the low-impact nature—and combine them with the intensity and progressive challenge of strength training.

The result is a workout that can stand on its own.

That doesn't mean you can't lift weights, run, play sports, or do other forms of exercise.

I actually love when our clients do.

But you don't need to leave class wondering, “Okay, but when do I actually strength train?”

You just did.

And then there's the coaching.

This is another part people don't always understand until they take a class.

The machine is only part of the workout.

Your coach is watching you. We don’t put moves on a white board at the beginning of class and call it a day.

They're watching your form. They're watching how you're moving. They're seeing when something is too easy, when you need a modification, when you're ready to progress, and when something just doesn't look right.

They're also getting to know you. What you're training for. What you've done before. What feels good. What doesn't. What you need more of.

That's a very different experience than walking into a gym, grabbing a set of dumbbells, and trying to figure out what you're doing. Plus, we cap the room at 12 so that you truly get personalized attention in a small group setting.

Why Core (LP)?

Because I don't think you should have to choose between a workout that's hard and a workout that's sustainable. I don't think strength training has to mean beating up your body, and I don't think you should have to figure everything out on your own. You deserve great coaching, a workout that challenges you, and a place where people actually know you and care about your progress.

That's what I've built at Core (LP).

And if you're looking for that, we’d love to have you in the room. - Learn More