Anyone do Pilates?

[Zen]

We use a small ball, about the size of a large grapefruit.

[emily_in_nc]

I haven't used the ring (or even seen one), but am still doing the mat class religiously, and still love it!

I can really tell a difference in strength and flexibility since I started. I'm hooked! Also doing a yoga class one day a week and did my first backbend since high school yesterday! Woohoo...

[tulip]

I haven't used the ring (or even seen one), but am still doing the mat class religiously, and still love it!

I can really tell a difference in strength and flexibility since I started. I'm hooked! Also doing a yoga class one day a week and did my first backbend since high school yesterday! Woohoo...

When I did a mat class in DC, we would use the magic circle from time to time. It's great you are loving it! It turned my health around (I had bad hip and back problems). I hope to begin a formal mat class this summer. I took classes for several years, but since moving here have been doing it on my own.

[Zen]

Pilates has helped me more than physical therapy ever did.
i can (almost) walk normally now.

[Crankin]

It's funny, every time I try Pilates, it hurts. I hate it. I did it consistently about 4 years ago, but it never got better. The instructors are very qualified, too and I did lots of modifications. For some reason, yoga is much better for me.

[Zen]

What hurts??

Yoga doesn't have enough stretching in it for me. I like yogalates.
Sugar free, lowfat

[OakLeaf]

Yoga doesn't have enough stretching in it for me.

King Pigeon. All the various back bends and shoulder openers. Eagle. Bending your toes past 90 degrees, whatever that's called. Lotus. Hero is actually reasonably comfortable for me, but there are people in my yoga class who actually have to sit on TWO blocks to get into Hero. Heck, even plain old Triangle is a pretty good stretch.

If that's not enough stretching for you I don't know any discipline that has more...