Pilates Then & Now

Essentially, Pilates was founded on the pursuit of happiness. Originally called Contrology, it was developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century in the belief that "physical fitness is the first requisite of a balanced, happy life." Contrology taught that body and mind are connected, so that when you "strengthen, stretch and control" one, you do the same for the other.
Although Stott Pilates® may be a more modern approach to the method, the idea is the same: when you are mindful of, and focused on, what your body is doing and how it impacts you, you get better results.

Balance

"Logically, man should develop his physical condition simultaneously with the development of his mind - neither should be sacrificed at the expense of the other; otherwise ‘balance of body and mind’ is not attainable."
- J. H. Pilates

Tracey Ryan Pilates

Joseph Pilates supplied the "why," but to Tracey, it's important that you also understand the "how." That's why every session is tailored to your knowledge and skills - rather than one-size-fits-all - and is designed to help you understand the purpose of each exercise. The exercises teach the most efficient ways to engage your muscles for instance, how best to exercise your core. (Because it's not as simple as doing crunches.) The goal is to create "functional movement patterns" - functional because they help you day-to-day, in your walking or sitting posture, in general agility, and more. When you understand how each exercise works, it's knowledge - and discipline - you can take away with you and practice at home, on vacation and elsewhere (no equipment needed). Pilates is not just an hour of exercise that you leave behind, it's a lifestyle, in the same way that a healthy diet is not just a way to lose weight. And once you've mastered it, you can practice it - in sessions, or on your own - for the rest of your life.