The Evolution of Pilates

From the 1920s to today, there has been an evolution of Pilates, while other things have stayed very much the same. An excellent way to see this in action is by watching old footage of Joseph Pilates teaching. There is one in particular where he is teaching a man the neck pull exercise and his hands-on cueing looks rather aggressive by today’s standards. He demonstrates the exercise, then pushes the man to round up and get his head towards his knees. It is pretty shocking the first time you see it. But there are also many other videos of him teaching in ways similar to how many of us teach today. It’s the same… but different! 

Cueing Today

I recently saw a post saying something like “Aren’t you glad teachers today aren’t as aggressive as Joseph Pilates?”. Based on that one video, I’d have to agree. However, Joseph had a very loyal following and was the go-to guy for dancers and many people recovering from injuries. He had a reputation for results. I don’t know for sure, but I can’t help but think that if he always cued like that, he probably wouldn’t have so many clients. Maybe that video was an exception or it was sped up a bit…

Today, hands-on cueing varies widely in Pilates; some instructors use it often while others prefer to keep their distance. And in some places, it’s not permitted at all. It comes down to what the instructor and the client are comfortable with – something the instructor should always ask.

An Evolution of Pilates

In the comments of that video, there was a comment from a Pilates teacher that said we don’t teach Pilates in this way now – that we perform more gentle cueing because Pilates has evolved. They added that Classical Pilates should evolve, too- and it has! Today we know more about the human body, posture, fascia, muscle imbalances, and so much more. That being said, if you study Classical Pilates today, you’ll see that Joe had an incredible knowledge well ahead of his time and his method is still highly relevant. 

When I first began my teacher training, I felt there was something special about Classical Pilates, but I didn’t fully understand it. It’s taken 18 years of continuing education, self-practice, and working with all kinds of people for all of the pieces of the system to really start falling into place. 

Classical Pilates is Flexible to Fit Everyone

It’s well known that there is a specific order to the exercises in Classical Pilates, particularly on the mat and reformer. But is the full order appropriate for every client? No, not at all. For many, yes. But each person will have their own limitations and goals. This is where we look at each client to design a program that’s appropriate for them, with the simple goal of progressing. With over 15 apparatuses and more than 500 classical exercises, there is no need to make anything up. 

We can work with where you are at today, even if that looks like:

• A client who can only do pre-Pilates and the foundations.
• Someone who needs to start with mostly standing work, with the wall or ped-o-pole.
• Working on balance, chest opening, or shoulder mobility.
• Someone who needs to avoid rolling exercises because it’s unsafe for their body. 

It Just Makes Sense

This isn’t meant to be a comparison of contemporary versus classical Pilates; I’ve attended both types of classes and enjoyed them. I just fell onto the classical path and it made sense for me. As long as you have a well-trained instructor, Pilates is a great corrective exercise that helps people with their physical imbalances so they can live life feeling great. It’s a process, it takes time, and it works.