From The Deep End · ATU Blog
Pool of Experts: Aquatic Pilates
Why aquatic Pilates looks different from pool to pool, and what a 2000 court ruling has to do with it.
First published January 17, 2024 on atuseminars.comIf you have watched three aquatic Pilates classes, you may have seen three very different programs. This short post explains why, and points you to the full Q&A with three experts on bringing Pilates into your pool.
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Three aquatic pilates experts examine the differences between the methods and how to bring this popular program to your pool.
More than 70 years after Joseph Pilates introduced his revolutionary exercise ideas to the world, clinicians began to wonder if those ideas wouldn’t translate nicely into the water. Thus was born aquatic pilates. However, not all versions of water-based Pilates are necessarily identical to Joseph Pilates’ original vision.
Full article link or continue reading below.
The confusion arises from a landmark court decision handed down in 2000 by the U.S. Southern District Court in Manhattan about the term “Pilates.” The court ruled that the use of “Pilates” could not be restricted by a trademark, making it as generic an exercise term as yoga or aerobics.
There are many different visions of what water-based Pilates should look like. Following is a Q&A with three aquatic pioneers, each of whom have taken some elements of Pilates into the water. It examines those differences and why the water-based programs ... Continue Reading Article Here.
What the research says
- Pilates on land. A Cochrane review found low- to moderate-quality evidence that Pilates beats minimal intervention for low back pain, but no clear evidence that it is better than other exercise.1
- Pilates in water. We found no published trials of aquatic Pilates in PubMed. The programs described by the experts rest on their clinical experience [Expert opinion].
Same name, different programs. Ask what is behind the label.
Frequently asked questions
Can the term “Pilates” be trademarked?
No. A 2000 ruling by a federal court in Manhattan found the word generic, like yoga or aerobics, so no one can restrict it by trademark (Salzman, 2024).
Is there one standard form of aquatic Pilates?
No. Each expert takes different elements of Pilates into the water, so programs vary (Salzman, 2024).
References
Research cited in this post
- Systematic review and meta-analysisYamato TP, Maher CG, Saragiotto BT, et al. Pilates for low back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;2015(7):CD010265. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010265.pub2. PubMed: 26133923.
How to cite this article
First published January 17, 2024 on atuseminars.com · Last updated October 19, 2026 · Permanent URL: https://www.aquatictherapyuniversity.com/blog/pool-of-experts-aquatic-pilates
How to cite
Salzman, A. (2024, January 17). Pool of Experts: Aquatic Pilates. Aquatic Therapy University Blog. ATU Educational Services, LLC. https://www.aquatictherapyuniversity.com/blog/pool-of-experts-aquatic-pilates
Permissions: You may quote and cite this article with attribution. Reproducing or adapting the full article requires written permission from ATU Educational Services, LLC.
For education only; not a substitute for individual clinical judgment.