09/04/2026
This is my kind of heavy lifting. 💪
People often ask what I do for training and are surprised when I answer: Pilates & running.
The next question is usually, “But don’t you lift weights?”
I don’t deny the research. As we age, maintaining muscle mass becomes increasingly important for our health, our bones, and our independence. And resistance training is key for this.
Fortunately, Joe Pilates built resistance training into his Method. Springs. Body weight. Leverage. Full ranges of motion. Constantly changing angles. It’s strength training, but with an emphasis on quality of movement rather than simply adding more load.
To me, strength isn’t just about what you can lift. It’s about what your body can DO.
Can you do a full push-up? A pull-up? A single-leg calf raise? Can you squat all the way to the floor and stand back up without wobbling or using your hands?
In this video, my shoulder is shaking under the weight of…my own arm and a 1 lb weight.
Could I lift something heavier? Probably. But with this underlying weakness, I’d just be setting myself up for an injury.
If you aren’t training ALL your muscles, heavy weights will just make the strong ones stronger while the weaker ones continue to sit on the sidelines. That’s how compensations develop. Over time, those compensations cause problems.
The beauty of the Pilates Method is that it was designed to train the whole body. Big muscles. Small muscles. Prime movers. Stabilizers. Mobility. Balance. Coordination. It builds bodies that are functionally strong, ones that will last a lifetime.
There is only so much time we have to exercise. I choose to spend it working on my weaknesses & imbalances. I make sure I can manage my own body weight in all the ways life demands. I keep my joints mobile & lubricated. I walk or run daily.
I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in. I can do everything I want. And for me, that’s the most important reason to exercise - so I can live my life saying YES.
If lifting heavy makes you feel great, though, keep going! The best exercise is the type that you enjoy so you do it consistently. But please make sure that what you are loading is up for
