If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old;
if it is completely flexible at 60, you are young - J. Pilates
Joseph Pilates (1883-1967)
is the person who developed the training method known as Pilates and invented the equipment used in my studio. Born in Germany, he was sickly as a child, but determined to build up his physical health beyond his peers. To do so, he became a gymnast and bodybuilder, and a professional boxer. Additionally, he carefully studied and practiced many more disciplines, like martial arts, yoga, tai chi, and zen meditation, learned anatomy and took inspiration from animal movements.
At the beginning of World War I, he began the work that led to what we now know as Pilates. He started by developing the Mat Program to condition his own body. He was working with hospital patients unable to walk and initially using his arms as resistance to condition their muscles. Later, he attached springs to the hospital beds to make the resistance consistent, so the patients could exercise from their beds. This was the very first prototype of the equipment now known as the Trapeze Table.
I invented all these machines... it resists your movements in just the right way so those inner muscles really have to work against it. That way you can concentrate on movement.
You must always do it slowly and smoothly. Then your whole body is in it - J. Pilates
Pilates emigrated to the USA and opened his first studio with his wife Clara in New York in 1926. They gained popularity and the majority of their clients were dancers, as the Pilates method improved their technical skills and helped them recover from injuries. Joseph and Clara were not English native speakers, therefore their cues were simple, with few words. They were known for their tactile cueing. One of their students, Mary Bowen, once said "They wouldn't talk, they would sculpt you". Till now Pilates teachers heavily rely on hands-on corrections following the tradition, guiding students in the most efficient way and providing them with a successful experience.
Joseph and Clara taught the method to a handful of students, who are known as the Elders. Studio's owner, Klaudia and teacher Jenny have had the privilege to learn Pilates in Vancouver Pilates Centre, whose teachers were students of one of the Elders, Ron Fletcher.
Contrology
The method was named after Joseph's last name after he passed away (1967). Pilates himself used to call it Contrology. He described it not as physical training, but as a philosophy, a way of living. His ideology included all the components necessary for the whole body's health (practicing mindful movement, eating well, sleeping, good hygiene). The required precision in movement is one of the reasons why he chose the name Contrology. He taught his students proper breath control, and as for mindfulness, controlling the body by the mind to move with ease and grace.
Reformer
is one of the greatest inventions of Pilates, which looks like a bed with springs attached to its bottom. It is the most popular Pilates equipment used in studios worldwide. There are hundreds of exercises you can explore on this one machine. It's designed to accommodate everyone's needs from the very beginner to the most advanced students.
Trapeze Table (Cadillac)
To Joseph Pilates, Trapeze Table was the most important piece of equipment he designed. He was so proud of it, he called it his Cadillac (after the most luxurious car at the time). It is even more versatile than a reformer. It includes components like springs, fuzzies (lambswool loops), a trapeze, a push-through and a roll-down bar.
All the apparatus in our studio are of the highest quality, made by the original Pilates manufacturer - Balanced Body.
Wunda Chair
Joseph Pilates wanted the Wunda chair to sit in your living room! It is the smallest of the springs' equipment (not counting the foot corrector), but the possibilities of the movement on the chair are endless. Small but mighty!
Ladder Barrel
One of the most challenging and fun parts of the classical apparatus. Transferring the skills you learnt on the reformer and trapeze table to the Ladder Barrel is an amazing experience. You can also learn new skills on the Ladder Barrel and transfer them to the reformer. There are no limits!
Spine Corrector and arc
The spine corrector, also known as Barrel, supports the spine in different spinal categories. Thanks to its unique shape it allows the spine to open in flexion, extension, side bends and twists.
In our studio, you will also get to use smaller tools like foot correctors (right), magic circles (left) and mini balls, which were present in the original Pilates gym, as well as newer products like MOBO board, Theragun, and arcs to enhance and better support your practice.
