ABOUT Pilates - Contrology

The Pilates method, originally known as Contrology, was developed by Joseph Pilates during World War I to help rehabilitate injured soldiers. He believed that by controlling the core muscles through the mind and proper breathing, a person could achieve strength from the inside out, fostering a deeper connection between mind, body, and spirit.

The method focuses on four primary principles:

Stability – Building a strong foundation in the core muscles to support the entire body.

Strength – Developing muscle tone and overall physical strength, particularly in the core and upper body.

Stretch – Increasing flexibility and range of motion in muscles and joints.

Stamina – Improving endurance and overall conditioning.

These principles work together to create a body that is agile, balanced, and has longer, leaner muscles. This holistic approach was appealing to dancers, and indeed, some of the earliest adopters of Pilates were dancers like Martha Graham and George Balanchine, who valued its ability to improve flexibility, strength, and alignment.

Pilates is not just about performing exercises, but rather a series of dynamic, controlled movements that engage both the body and the mind. The purposeful control of these movements reawakens dormant brain cells, creating a feeling of mental clarity and "uplift." The focus on the core helps align the body, making the movements more efficient and creating a balanced body overall.

Breathing plays a key role in Pilates. As Joseph Pilates often said, “Above all else, learn how to breathe correctly.” Proper breathing is essential, not only to oxygenate the blood but also to help maintain a rhythm and fluidity in the movements, promoting relaxation and reducing stress.

Though Pilates began as a rehabilitation technique, it has since evolved into a highly effective method of injury prevention, overall fitness, and enhanced body awareness. The method can be practiced by people of all ages and fitness levels, offering unparalleled results. Whether you're recovering from an injury, looking to prevent one, or seeking a healthier lifestyle, Pilates can benefit you at any stage of your fitness journey.

Joseph Pilates was born on December 9, 1883, near Düsseldorf, Germany, and became the founder of the Pilates Method, which he originally called Contrology. His life and work were deeply influenced by his parents. His father, a Greek mechanic and prize-winning gymnast, and his mother, a German naturopath, both shaped Pilates' ideas about physical fitness and healing. His mother’s philosophy of natural healing and his father’s physical achievements had a profound impact on Pilates' future approach to therapeutic exercise.

As a child, Pilates suffered from asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever, and was often bullied for his small size. This early adversity sparked a deep determination in him to overcome his physical limitations. A family doctor gave him an old anatomy book, which he studied diligently. He also spent time observing animals in the wild, learning from their natural movement patterns. Pilates explored various forms of exercise, including yoga, weight training, wrestling, martial arts, and acrobatics. By age 14, he was fit enough to pose for anatomical charts, and by adulthood, he became an accomplished gymnast, boxer, skier, diver, and bodybuilder.

Pilates admired the classical Greek ideal of a man who was equally balanced in body, mind, and spirit. This philosophy drove him to dedicate his life to developing a method of exercise that would not only improve physical strength but also enhance mental clarity and overall health. He believed that poor health was often a result of modern lifestyle habits, such as bad posture and inefficient breathing.

By 1912, Pilates had moved to England, where he worked as a professional boxer, circus performer, and self-defense instructor for detectives at Scotland Yard. During World War I, he was interned as an "enemy alien" on the Isle of Man, where he began refining his exercise methods. Pilates insisted that fellow inmates participate in daily physical routines to maintain their physical and mental health. For injured soldiers confined to bed, he ingeniously rigged springs from bed frames to create resistance exercises, a precursor to the Reformer and Cadillac machines used in Pilates today. These exercises helped his fellow prisoners stay strong and healthy, and they are said to have survived the 1918 flu pandemic due to their improved physical condition.

After the war, Pilates returned to Germany, where his innovative work with soldiers caught the attention of the German government, who invited him to train the German secret police. However, Pilates was disillusioned with the political climate in Germany and decided to leave. During his voyage to the United States, he met Clara, whom he married. Together, they opened the first Contrology studio in New York City in 1926, near Madison Square Garden. The studio was located in the same building as several dance studios, including the New York City Ballet.

By the 1930s, Pilates’ method began to gain recognition, particularly among dancers and performers. His exercises were seen as highly effective for rehabilitation and for improving overall fitness. Notable dancers and choreographers, including George Balanchine, Martha Graham, Hanya Holm, Ruth St. Denis, and Jerome Robbins, embraced Pilates for its ability to improve strength, flexibility, and control. This connection with the dance world played a significant role in Pilates’ growth as an “underground phenomenon” in New York, with dancers and performance artists being some of the method’s earliest adopters.

In 1934, Pilates published his first book, "Your Health", and in 1945, he released his landmark book, "Return to Life Through Contrology", which described his method and its benefits. By the 1960s, Pilates’ method had gained widespread attention, particularly among society women who followed the example of the city's professional dancers.

Joseph Pilates continued to innovate and develop new equipment for his method throughout his life. His ingenuity is seen in his creation of the Barrel (originally made from a beer keg) and the Magic Circle (constructed using metal hoops from the keg). Pilates passed away in 1967, but his method continues to influence the world of fitness, rehabilitation, and holistic health.

Today, the Pilates Method is practiced by millions of people worldwide, with its focus on core strength, flexibility, mental focus, and body alignment making it a timeless and transformative practice.