The Pilates world is changing and evolving faster than we thought possible. More and more I see teachers who approach the method as a bodywork modality, far more medicinal in nature. Many shun the fitness origins of Pilates altogether.

Where do you think our craft is headed? Might our training become more anatomically based and potentially longer to complete? Would a degree be possible one day? Or will there be a backlash of other bodyworkers, pushing Pilates back into the fitness arena exclusively?

Food for thought.
Leave a comment!

Alycea Ungaro, P.T.
Real Pilates, NYC

From what I understand, Joseph Pilates created his system as an exercise system. When you see old photos and footage of him and his studio, you see weights, all kinds of devices, and students doing some pretty advanced stuff. Remember, he worked with boxers and lots of men before the dancers took over.

I'm surprised sometimes to see how many Pilates studios and teachers operate at an almost therapeutic pace. I tend to think that if you're not dripping in sweat with body shaking at the end of your lesson, you've not done proper Pilates. Come on, it's exercise and hard work.

At a local gym, there is a Pilates mat class. I've walked by it and the students are all lying down listening to the teacher speak softly while New Age music plays in the background.

I can't imagine Joe having his boxers do this.

What if you have someone with a tight psoas, gripping hip flexors, extreme shoulder tension and possibly zilch for body awareness? Are you just going to have them hammer out 100's and create more tension? Like everything, Pilates has evolved. Live with it. There's no patent so people can do what they want and I think the slow, therapeutic mode is a hell of a lot better than the gym rat mentality of slamming it out to sweat. Our society has sped up since Joe was around and most folks need to slow down and tune in to their bodies.

Yes, it's true. I'm one of those mean, evil, antiquated, militaristic classical Pilates people who believes that if you're not doing "classical" Pilates, you're not doing Pilates. Call it something else but don't call it Pilates.

Pilates is/should be a fitness regime and a workout. Long ago, someone told me to try Pilates for my aching body (from tennis, running, and various other things). My friend told me that I needed to do it at least a few times to reap the benefits so I plopped down my money for 10 sessions. The studio was of the therapeutic mode. To me, the first session was deadly boring. But hey, I was game. I'd give it a go. After session 10, we'd barely gotten to the point of lifting my head off the mat. The teacher even massaged me. I thought, "Here I am, a fit man, being subjected at outrageous prices to an intellectual activity (the teacher even got out her anatomy books) and massage." I didn't go back.

Fast forward a year or so when I met, quite by accident, a "classical" Pilates teacher. I told her about my experience with Pilates and she suggested that I give it another go. I took her up on her offer and WOW! what a difference. That's exactly what I'd been looking for. It fixed the bad parts and gave me a new body.

Since then, I've studied the classical method and become a "classical teacher." I have the opposite opinion. Many of my clients sit at a desk all day. The last thing they want and/or need is to slow down even more. They want to workout and that's what we do. They don't care about their psoas; they want a nice butt. Many have been to "other" Pilates studios and are quite surprised at how different/challenging/beneficial the true method is.

It's all in there if you know the authentic method. You have to trust it. It can change bodies and lives.

Having said that, doing anything is better than doing nothing at all and if you're a gifted teacher (and I'm assuming you are since you are taking your time to write on this website) you can help people with what you do.

But when I cannot recognize exercises or see all this bodywork stuff going on, I cannot consider or call it Pilates.

Good questions Alycea. After ten years of teaching, Pilates both as exercise and as therapy, I believe the teachers who will excell will be able to do both. One of my constant "ahha"s" about the work is how adaptable it is. We as teachers need to be as adaptable and keep current with our education in all areas of mind/body. As far as the direction of our craft, I can only speak for myself. Joe Pilates was a genius in his work. I pray everyday he will guide me to find the same genius inside me when I teach.

Thank you Deborah I agree that a good teacher should have enough knowledge and insight to evaluate a client when they walk in the door, and provide a session that will accomidate what the client wants, and what we think they need. This is an art indeed, but we should be in the business of helping people both to be fit, and overcome their weaknesses. I will add that if what they need is beyond the scope of our knowledge we should refer them to other modalities and work as a team with others to help them achieve their goals.

Good point. But I have to add that I have two Type A desk workers that are wound tight when they get to my studio. They cannot handle intensity so I go slow with them and they love it. They claim to feel so much more relaxed and integrated and they now come twice a week instead of only once a week.
I do like and respect the Classical stuff but I don't believe it is for everyone. I do not believe in formulas. But that is my belief. I also think that the teacher has everything to do with it. I have experienced the New-Agey, process-oriented teacher that did not resonate with me and I have had sessions with Kathy Grant that rocked my world.
As with everything powerful, Pilates will probably always have that controversy. I guess we should agree to disagree, and just strive to do our best to help people. That's my main objective anyway.

Excellent discussion. Eight years ago I joined a mat class that was of the music and low lights variety pilates. I thought it was great but what I didn't know was a lot. Five years into it, I decided to get a classical education (Peak) and I was completely blown away. The changes in my body over the course of 3 months far exceeded all that my body had accomplished the previous 5 years. What seemed so structured and 'militaristic' was actually the most transformational thing I'd ever done and not just on a physical level. I realize that pilates done 'classically' is not for every body initially BUT, over time, if a deconditioned client works within the classical system their progress will surpass there wildest dreams. I have seen this happen over and over again - it works.

I see no problem in bringing our individual skill sets to the service of those seeking help.... If we're qualified to do so. Doing 'bodywork' on someone simply because you looked in an anatomy book and found out where the psoas lays doesn't mean you have any business poking and prodding around to work on it.

If bodywork is of interest in ones practice then get the necessary education to pursue and utilize it. This way one can safely and effectively meet the needs of the client in a more comprehensive manner. Not all problems that people present with are the result of muscle weakness!

In fact, although muscle weakness can be a reflection of how one uses, or doesn't use, their body on a daily bases, it is most often a functional or compensatory response to more intrinsic problems. Strengthening alone will often just place one compensatory pattern on top of another, and that doesn't serve anyone well in the long run.

Adding manipulative work is only going to make the intention of pilates come to the surface more clearly.

I personally don't see the sensibility in sticking to an old ideology simply because 'Joe said so'. No pioneer, such as Joseph Pilates, would ever dream of putting a halt on the evolution and progress of their work. Aside from that, the human body will always remain our greatest teacher... despite what so-and-so said way back when. If it works, great! Use it. Better yet, understand why it works and you'll be able to take the work to the next level without the 'paint-by-numbers' approach.

Basically what I'm getting at is if practicing pilates by the book is what you're after... do it and leave it at that... an exercise program and general body tonic. If you're interested in getting more specific and effective when working with people then it is imperative that you step outside the box of classical pilates and expand your skill set. That doesn't mean you aren't doing pilates in my opinion... but then again, depending on where you've gone with it, maybe it isn't pilates... Is a label more important than effective work? That's the more important question in my mind. And if one wants to limit there skills and ability to help people by practicing 'true pilates', well then that's an individual choice... .
I don't see a need to 're-invent' forms of bodywork/manipulative therapies within an expanded pilates training. I think if one wants to add bodywork or such, there are plenty of options already in existence that can add valuable insight and skills. The only reason to add bodywork to a pilates training would be to create a 'new brand' of pilates, ...another economically motivated endeavor. Is this more about the business, or more about providing intelligent and competent care. The latter has nothing to do with labels and everything to do with sound knowledge, principle and a skilled practitioner.

I believe the answer is both. I have been teaching Pilates for 9 years and I find myself going in both directions. I have a client who is in constant pain and for some reason, Pilates is the only thing that gives her relief. I have other clients that find that Pilates is the only thing that helps them to feel fit and strong so I use a slightly different approach with them.That's the beauty of this method!

I have different types of training: I apprenticed for awhile with a classically trained instructor and went through a program she developped and then went through Polestar. I see many wonderful results coming from the method so I am not so quick to jump on either bandwagon.

I do recall, however, during my training taking some classes in NY. I had one instructor spend 20 minutes with me having me relax my Rhomboid muscle while I relaxed on the trap table. Oh my. Here I was already an instructor with several years experience and extremely fit yet she treated me as if I were approaching 100 years old. If I did that with my clients and charged $80 a session I'd be out of business and selling hot dogs in no time! So I think sometimes instructors can take too much ooomph out of the workout.

We have to remember that Joseph taught 'contrology' not pilates. Pictorial evidence from archieves in Munchenglaadbach show photos of a group of instructors, including Josephs father,in 1880's. They are Controlologist, 'balanced body ,mind and spirit' is their motto. They are seen with barbells, barrels and parrallel bars. My point being that Joseph 'evolved' this method, learnt from his father and so we should not be afraid to 'evolve'the method also. Proper training and adhering to the basic principles is of far greater importance than teacher style or delivery.

What I see more and more are studios that go to extremes. On the one hand, there are the "bodywork," for lack of a better term, studios that treat clients, as if they "were approaching 100 years old" regardless of their age or fitness level. On the other hand, there are the studios and programs that jazz Pilates up too much -- music blaring, 10 people on reformers with the instructor shouting out instructions telling people, "this one's great for your hamstrings (or butt, or biceps, or whatever)."
As a classical devote, Pilates is neither of these extremes. In a way, it is "bodywork" because of the concentration and focus you are supposed to be practicing while exercising.