A Rose by Any Other Name...
What is in a Name?
Pilates debuted in the early 1920’s under the name “Contrology” by founder Joseph H. Pilates. It began with a series of 34 exercises performed on the mat.
As he further developed his Method, he became an avid inventor to help his students maximise their results with spring-loaded tension.
For a brief history, read more here.
Today, there is a great divide between Classical, Contemporary and questionable movements on modern reformers that beg the question : “What is Pilates?”
At LA VIE Pilates & Wellness, teaching inspiration is drawn from :
The Original Pilates Principles
Archival Videos of Joseph Pilates teaching his method in New York in the 1940’s
Emphasis on cueing form and hands-on-adjustments, as passed down by Romana Kryzanowska
The Classical sequence is respected, yet less rigorously adhered to, allowing personalised needs and desires to be met with bespoke refinements.
Creative and intentional flows connecting Breath, Precision, Movement and Control on original Pilates apparatuses.
Modern day research in kinesiology, biomechanics and functional movement science to aid in eliminating back pain, improve daily range of motion, gait, pelvic floor health, maximise diaphragmatic breathing and even mental acuity.
The jumpboard was invented after the passing of Joseph H. Pilates
The Source…
How did Joseph Pilates teach? It is only through Archival Videos and Return to Life we can explore the subtle differences in form, rhythm and intention straight from the man himself.
He was a boxer…he was handsy…he was rough…and if he didn’t like you, he sent you to his wife Clara. These are facts shared by people who knew him.
Romana Kryzanowska - long time student and protégé - inherited the original New York studio after the death of Mr. Pilates in 1967 with Clara’s blessings. She began training people to teach Pilates in 1975, and she worked with investors to streamline and disseminate The Pilates Method by creating the first manuals and teacher certification program in 1993, known today as Romana’s Pilates.
However, even Romana enhanced the original method with her own spin. She added exercises to complete what we know today as the Series of Five, and re-grouped exercises aimed at standardising the Pilates Method and teaching “Classical Pilates” at scale, including beautiful transitions that were never a part of the original method, but lovely to see executed by ballet dancers…Joseph Pilates’ original students.