You will often hear me talk about the Pilates system… but what does that mean exactly? A simple definition of a system is “a set of things working together, or a method of doing things.” That is exactly what Pilates is! It’s a way of moving to help you build strength, mobility, and flexibility so you can move well in all the things you do. This was Joseph Pilates’ main goal with his system of movement, originally called Contrology.
Joseph Pilates’ System of Movement
In the beginning, Joseph Pilates created his system of movement for himself alone. As he started to see how it helped him move and feel better, he realized he could also help others. It started with the mat work, which is actually very difficult. To better help his clients achieve the difficult movements, he began to design other exercises and apparatuses.
The apparatuses are excellent tools to help you get stronger, be more aware of your movements, improve mobility, and find deeper connections within your body. As he saw the need, Joseph designed various apparatuses such as the wunda chair, the 2×4, and something very similar to today’s classical reformers. (In fact, he was very passionate about the feet, and his first patent was for the foot corrector!) It was through all of these pieces that Joseph created Contrology, which we now know as the Pilates system.
How the Pilates System Works
The Mat Work
If you look at the classical order of the mat exercises, you’ll quickly see that the early exercises are smaller movements, closer to the ground, and appear simple. As the order progresses, the movements become larger, more complex, and have your body more upright or standing. You’ll also notice that the early exercises are preparing you for those later on. For example, the very first exercise, the hundred, is meant to warm you up and get you ready for the workout ahead. But it’s also preparing you for teaser later on, with similar body position and movement, just smaller.
When you first start Pilates, you are focused mostly on figuring out what the heck you’re supposed to be doing with your body. Some exercises may seem wildly simple, while others will be very challenging based on your own strengths and weaknesses. With time, practice, and awareness, however, things may shift! As you discover deeper connections in your body, the simple exercises become hard; and as you get stronger, those impossible exercises become achievable. This is where the apparatuses step in.
The Apparatuses
As mentioned, the apparatuses are designed to help you achieve the movements that are challenging in the mat work. For example, the springs help you to learn control. If you don’t resist the spring’s tension, you’ll slam the carriage of the reformer or the pedal of the chair. The springs help you to feel specific muscles working while also offering an option to make an exercise more accessible as needed. The apparatuses can also give you a little “push” into your stretches and mobilization of your joints.
There are hundreds of exercises on the apparatuses, and they can give you a full workout from warmup to cooldown. As with the mat work, you’ll see similar movements showing up over and over again, in an order that helps you to get stronger, more flexible, and more mobile.
It All Works Together For YOU
The Pilates system is designed to work for every body and every ability. Whether your goal is to achieve advanced Pilates exercises, relieve your back pain, or simply feel better in your body, the system can help you get there. A good Pilates instructor will see where you may need more awareness, strength, flexibility, or mobility in your workout and will adjust the system to help. They could suggest regressions, progressions, or introduce an apparatus, for example.
This is what is so magical about Pilates! With a little guidance, anyone can use the system to move better in life, which is exactly what Joseph Pilates wanted.