Why I Chose One-on-One Pilates Over Back Surgery
Quick answer: I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis and fibromyalgia after years of repeat injuries from sports I wasn't conditioned for. Instead of spinal surgery, I worked one-on-one with a private Pilates instructor to rebuild my deep core and breathing mechanics, and it's kept me moving ever since.
What Was Happening Before I Started?
I kept getting hurt. Dance, yoga, cycling, running, one injury after another, because I didn't actually know what my body needed or how to condition it properly. Over the years that pattern led to a spectrum of spinal issues, and eventually diagnoses of ankylosing spondylitis and fibromyalgia.
Why Private Pilates Instead of Surgery?
Surgery was on the table for my spine. Instead, I started working with a private Pilates instructor to regulate my nervous system, learn proper breathing mechanics, and strengthen my deep core, not abs, but the intra-abdominal pressure system that actually supports the spine. Research on ankylosing spondylitis backs this up: a randomized controlled trial found Pilates improved pain, function, and quality of life in AS patients compared with standard care alone. Fibromyalgia research shows something similar, with a meta-analysis finding Pilates meaningfully reduces pain.
What Does Deep Core Work Actually Mean?
It's not crunches. The diaphragm, transverse abdominis, and pelvic floor work together to create intra-abdominal pressure, which is what actually stabilizes the spine during movement. Learning to breathe correctly changed how my whole body handled load.
What Happens When I Take a Break From Pilates?
Every single time I paused, the pain and injuries came back. Not eventually, right away. That's how I learned this isn't a phase or a fad for me. It's maintenance, the same way medication or physical therapy would be for someone else.
Why Bring This to Village Pilates?
Pilates has become the wild west lately: hot Pilates, sculpt Pilates, HIIT Pilates. Fun formats, but built for calorie burn, not for someone rebuilding a nervous system after injury or managing a chronic condition. There's a real shortage of instructors trained to work one-on-one with people like me. I want Village Pilates to be that place.
FAQ
Is one-on-one Pilates a replacement for medical care? No. This is my personal experience, not medical advice. Always work with your doctor or rheumatologist alongside any exercise program, especially with a diagnosis like AS or fibromyalgia.
Does one-on-one work better than group classes for chronic pain? Research comparing the two in fibromyalgia patients found both formats helped, though the studies point to different strengths for each; talk to an instructor about what fits your situation.
How long before I'd notice a difference? It varies, but many clinical Pilates studies for AS and fibromyalgia show measurable change within 8 to 12 weeks of consistent sessions.
Further Reading & Resources
Effect of Pilates Training on People With Ankylosing Spondylitis, Rheumatology International: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00296-011-1932-9
Effect of Pilates on Pain and Health-Related Quality of Life in Fibromyalgia Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11642570/
Impact of Diaphragm Function Parameters on Balance Maintenance, PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6310257/
Effects of Clinical Pilates Exercises in Individuals With Fibromyalgia (One-to-One vs. Group-Based), PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33372888/
