By Kathy Corey

What is Pilates? Answering this question is not easy. The complexity of the program itself combined with the variety of styles and levels of results lead to so many different explanations that there is not one definitive answer. It is easier to begin by explaining what Pilates is not. It is not just a bunch of exercises and it is not something you do three times a week. Pilates is intelligent fitness for lifelong health. It is a way of life that teaches us to perform our daily activities with consciousness and care. And, it is living the mind body connection. Its purpose is the greater enjoyment of life. Pilates is a lifestyle that is founded on principles that affect the choices we make and the way we live.

Contrology, as Joseph Pilates called his method, is the “complete coordination of body, mind and spirit”. His goal was the perfect balance between body and mind realized through the conscious control of all movements. Only through the centering of body and mind can you achieve the maximum benefits of his program. He writes in “Return to Life Through Contrology” in 1945 that you must “always keep your mind wholly concentrated on the purpose of the exercises as you perform them”. He gives exact and precise instructions which are to be followed with patience and persistence. The precision of correct movements is necessary in order to master them to the point that they become your new physical patterns. This creates a system of functional strength that actually changes our physicality. The exercises were designed to build a sturdy body and sound mind and to reflect grace in daily activities. The practice of Pilates builds a flow of motion that allows us to perform routine tasks with ease and perfection.

“Breathing is the first act of life, and the last. Our very life depends on it,” according to Joseph Pilates. Breath is so vital to this work that all of the “rolling” and “unrolling” exercises are intended to cleanse the lungs. Cleansing the lungs improves oxygenation and circulation which benefits every fiber and tissue in the body. Mr. Pilates implores us to above all, learn how to breathe correctly.

Control, Centering, Concentration, Precision, Flow of Motion, and Breath – these principles are the foundation of Pilates. They are the essence of the work and the secret to the success and longevity of the program. Even though there are so many diverse Pilates programs, they are connected through the principles and spirit of the work. For what we all share in our differences is the consciousness and care with which we teach it. The time has never been more crucial for us to realize the responsibility of continued education and the power of the principles in our practice and teaching. For without this as the basis of our work, Pilates will become just another fad exercise system. It is our collective dedication, attention to detail and focus that maintain the integrity of the work and are the foundation of our future.

When I began teaching Pilates 26 years ago no one knew what it was or even how to pronounce it. Times have changed. Then, we knew very little in the fields of exercise physiology and kinesiology. According to their guidelines, Pilates was not recommended, Mind/Body was unheard of, and Spirit had no place in the fitness world. Times have changed. The more research that is published, the more appropriate Pilates becomes for a greater number of people. From fitness to rehabilitation, from young to old, we have the possibility to affect change in people’s bodies and in people’s minds. And, health and physical fitness change not just the quality of movement, but the quality of life. The power of the mind body connection is being accepted and embraced by the medical community and the fitness industry on international levels. Times have changed.

As our numbers and knowledge expand, we have the opportunity to explore the technique in greater depth. Courses are being offered to study the biomechanics and kinesthetic qualities of Pilates. Classes in the psychology of Pilates help us understand the Mind/Body connection and the power of focus and concentration. The energetic value of the work is addressed with attention to the uplifting sense of spirit. To attain the complete coordination of body, mind and spirit, the art and science of Pilates forms a balanced whole. The overdevelopment of any one part continues to be unbalanced. Pilates helps us connect our separate parts; Pilates makes us whole.

Practicing just one of the principles should encompass all of them because you can not have balanced mind/body control if you are not centered. You can not be centered if you are not concentrating. Controlled, centered movements performed with concentration will be precise. Precision in movement is the mastery of movement which is achieved in flow of motion. Without breath, movement is not possible. Our very lives depend on it – as do our spirits.

An outstanding performance—of anything—can take your breath away. There is something profound that captures you in the moment of a great performance. It is a focus, a correctness and at the same time an effortlessness, that goes beyond words. In that body, mind, spirit moment you are living the Pilates principles. This is the essence and beauty of Pilates. This is the gift of Pilates.

“With body, mind and spirit functioning perfectly as a coordinated whole, what else could reasonably be expected other than an active, alert, disciplined person? Moreover, such a body freed from nervous tension and over-fatigue is the ideal shelter provided by nature for housing a well-balanced mind that is always fully capable of successfully meeting all the complex problems of modern living,” wrote Joseph Pilates in 1945. That statement could not apply more to today’s “modern life”. Pilates gives us the tools we need to become centered and align our bodies, minds and spirits.

What is Pilates? Answering this question takes a lifetime, for Pilates is a process of health, of well-being and of life.