Reformer Pilates - Origins
Pilates began with a single founder, which often surprises people regardless of their experience or knowledge of the practice.
Pilates originated in early 20th-century Germany, before World War I began. During his youth, Joseph Pilates experienced poor posture and several health issues, including asthma, which were at odds with his aspiration to achieve the strength and agility attributed to ancient Greek athletes. He studied his body and created daily exercises to boost his health.
By age 14, his impressive physique made him a model for anatomical charts, and he won gymnastics and boxing competitions.
Whilst demonstrating self-defense techniques on the Isle of Man, the war broke out. Held as a prisoner of war there, Pilates worked within the prison hospitals applying his method, which he called ‘Contrology’, to boost morale and rehabilitate the soldiers.
Having introduced a range of movement exercises on the floor known as matwork, Pilates recognised that only a few people were able to perform mat exercises correctly. To address this, he developed a wooden bed frame that could slide back and forth with weighted springs for resistance. These first reformers are slightly reminiscent of Victorian torture devices!
Today’s reformer moves naturally along with the body; correcting and reconditioning the body through movement patterns and controlled resistance. There are literally hundreds of exercises, all with variations, regressions and progressions, that can be done while sitting, lying supine, kneeling or standing.
Contrology
Joseph Pilates' Contrology philosophies emphasize the importance of the mind's control over the body. He believed that modern lifestyles, poor posture, and shallow breathing were at the root of many physical and mental health issues. His method, which he called "Contrology," focuses on precision, control, and mindfulness in every movement. Pilates designed a series of exercises to correct muscular imbalances, improve posture, coordination, balance, strength, and flexibility. He also emphasized the importance of increasing breathing capacity.
According to Joseph Pilates, Contrology is not a system of haphazard exercises designed to produce only bulging muscles. Instead, it is an exercise and breathing regime that develops the body uniformly, corrects posture, restores vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit. The health of the mind and body are inextricably linked in Pilates' philosophy. The focus of Pilates is on how you do the exercises, not how many or how fast you do them.
Contrology gained significant popularity in the dance community for several reasons. Dancers found Pilates' method particularly beneficial because it focused on improving strength, flexibility, and control, which are essential for dance performance. The exercises designed by Pilates helped dancers enhance their core strength, posture, and balance, allowing them to perform more efficiently and with greater precision.
Additionally, Pilates' emphasis on controlled movement and breathwork resonated with dancers, who often require a high level of body awareness and coordination. The method also provided a way for dancers to rehabilitate injuries and prevent future ones, making it an invaluable tool for maintaining their physical health. As a result, many dancers adopted Contrology as part of their training regimen, contributing to its widespread popularity in the dance community.