About Pilates

A revolutionary in the real sense of the word, Joseph Pilates envisioned a movement regime with exercises created, as he used to say, “for the whole body”. The method engaged both physical awareness and mental alertness and its purpose was to create a strong, flexible body, capable of performing daily activities with ease and grace.

The work that he so intuitively created is now taught in great detail and explained by the master teachers of the Pilates world.

Being a teacher of the Pilates Method implies more than knowing a number of exercises. It requires a deep understanding of the underlying philosophy and strong knowledge of the human body, the way it is designed to move and how it can heal through movement. Teaching Pilates exercises in a context that is separated from the whole body movement experience diminishes the benefits one can achieve while training in the Pilates method.

At the Pilates Method Alliance held in Denver, Colorado in November 2003, the Pilates principles were defined for the first time in a professional conference in the Pilates field. The lecture given by master teachers Dianne Miller from Vancouver and Debra Lessen from New York had its foundation in Joseph Pilates’ philosophical treatise “Return to Life Through Contrology”, published in 1945.

Excerpts from the Conference Schedule:

"The lecture will explore and then expand upon the Pilates principles as they relate to the Pilates method of exercise. These principles form the basis of the Pilates method and create a clear delineation, which separates Pilates from all other forms of movement and exercise. Learn how to incorporate the principles correctly whether teaching clients or facilitating a Teacher Training Program.”

Ms. Lessen was trained to teach the Pilates method by Joseph Pilates’ first protégé, Carola Trier. Ms. Miller trained to teach the Pilates method with Ron Fletcher who studied with Joseph and Clara Pilates.