What Is Pilates?

Legally, Pilates is a generic term to describe exercise. This means that a consumer may come across a wide variety of things called Pilates. Likewise, if a person wants to become a Pilates instructor, they will have many programs of certification from which to choose.

Historically, this all started with a person named Joseph H. Pilates. He was passionately interested in the human body and in keeping it healthy. Like most innovators, he was ahead of his time. Through personal experience and observation, Joe arrived at the conclusion that we were not as healthy as we could be. He attributed this situation to our modern lifestyles and our general lack of understanding of how our bodies work. Joe studied the body through various disciplines of physical practice, and analysis; and considered movement through observing animals and small children. Armed with that information, a healthy sense of confidence and the opportunity to begin a new life in the United States, he developed a system of exercise for maintaining an optimal state of health. Over time, he invented many pieces of apparatus which assisted his students in meeting this goal and he devised a series of exercises for them to perform at home to maintain their progress. Joe called his system Contrology, The Art of Control. He and his wife Clara had what was called the Pilates’ Studio and that is where many New Yorkers went to exercise and learn more about their bodies than they imagined possible. Joe died in 1967. Since then, Clara and others have continued to share his work. Romana Kryzanowska was left in charge of the Pilates’ studio and Joe's legacy. She has worked in that capacity since Joe's death.

Practically, Pilates is exercise. It is a very well designed system and those devoted to it would say that it's the best system of exercise available.

Potentially, Pilates can keep us healthy and happy just as Joe intended.

Which brings us to a logical point of departure. What Pilates is to each of us is simply a matter of how we each choose to work with what is available to us. Pilates is slightly different for every individual who experiences it. While we humans share so many characteristics, we are each unique.