“Contrology is designed to give you suppleness, natural grace, and skill that will be unmistakably reflected in the way you walk, in the way you play, and in the way you work.”
Sounds like the promises you might hear on a late-night infomercial for a new energy drink. But the source of this statement is actually Joseph Pilates, the creator of the exercise method we all know and love. This giant of a man (who, by the way wasn’t a giant -- he stood at a stocky 5’ 5”) developed his unique approach to fitness in the early 20th century. Contrology was the name he used to describe his method, since it is all about -- you guessed it -- control.
I recently got my hands on two great biographies of Joseph Pilates and learned a lot about the man, the myth, and the legend. Some of what I learned consisted of debunked rumors (for instance, there’s no evidence that Joe was ever a circus performer -- though he liked to tell that story), eye-opening details about his life (he never filed income taxes!), and insight into the evolution of his method from his death in 1967 to the modern day (lots of twists and turns there).
One of the most meaningful things for me to learn from these books was how Pilates envisioned his corrective exercise method pairing with chiropractic care and being integrated into the medical field. He presented case studies in front of chiropractic associations, collaborated with chiropractors and physicians, and tried to get his methods in some of the local hospitals. Doctors were impressed (in one particular case, he successfully rehabilitated a well-known professional dancer who had a mastectomy,) but some dismissed him since he didn't have a medical degree. Pilates and chiropractic treatment seem like such a natural partnership, but one that was never fully realized during his lifetime. For me, having opened Soma Lux's studio in a facility shared with evidence-based chiropractic care providers, the connection to Joseph Pilates's legacy and vision has become even stronger and more tangible.
Some other interesting tidbits from the books…
About his personal background:
Joseph Hubertus Pilates was German, not Greek as some would assume from his name.
He had a glass eye from a boxing mishap.
Pilates was married three times. His last and longest relationship was with Clara, a fellow German who emigrated at the same time. The story goes that they met on the ship during their voyage to New York and started their new life together in Manhattan. Clara wasn’t legally his wife, though they lived as husband and wife until his death in 1967. She helped him open his studio and taught alongside him.
About the development of his exercise method:
As a young man, Joe had influences from the realms of boxing, gymnastics, calisthenics, and yoga. At one point he even tried his hand at competitive boxing, starting his own league.
He was interned on the Isle of Man in England during WWI for several years, during this time honing his methods, participating in an active boxing community, and teaching exercise to others. He even helped the nurses and doctors in rehabilitating patients.
Joe loved to watch animals move, which is where he got a lot of inspiration for some of the exercises he developed.
Pilates referred to his Manhattan studio as a gymnasium. There were several pieces of equipment which he designed and built himself. Each client met with him one-on-one the first time and he gave them an exercise routine. Once they knew their routine, they were on their own (unlike the privates and group classes of today), but Joe, his wife Clara, and the assistants were on hand to help those who needed guidance.
He deeply believed in his method and saw real positive results as he rehabbed injured dancers and other athletes back to optimum health. He presented his findings to many chiropractors, and showed case studies to doctors, attempting to get his methods accepted in wider medical circles.
Joe was an innovator. Aside from the reformer, Cadillac, chair, and barrel, which are familiar to today’s Pilates enthusiasts, Joe also invented other equipment, including items such as the headdress, toe corrector, tensometer, and several pieces of furniture (a bed you can exercise in! a chaise lounge that opens up into a reformer!).
About the business of his method:
Pilates knew the value of his method, and believed it was the antidote to the unhealthy modern way of life. Though his studio had periods of success, his method never really caught on before his death in 1967. Around the time of his death, he predicted that some day his method would become more widespread. “Pilates” as we know it, took off in the 1990s and is now a worldwide phenomenon.
During his lifetime, Pilates was not financially successful (as we would define it today). He didn’t charge very much for use of his gym, and his business’s bookkeeping was so-so. Though he and Clara were US citizens, they did not open bank accounts, savings, or investments, and never filed taxes.
There were several times after his death in 1967 that Joseph Pilates’s method was almost lost, as the studio had to close & relocate, and suitable successors had to be found to continue his teaching methods. In the 1990s there was a significant trademark lawsuit around the use of the term “Pilates,” which was resolved in 2001.
Joe truly believed in his method -- for him, it provided the ultimate antidote to the unhealthy modern lifestyle (if he could only see us now with our computers, smartphones, and "tech necks"... yikes!!). He was somewhat of a tortured genius, and experienced frustration & sadness that his methods were never adopted on a widespread basis during his lifetime. If he could only see it now! The Pilates approach is now accessible to millions all over the world who enjoy the rejuvenation, healing, and strengthening it provides the mind and body.
**Want to learn more about this legend? Check out the books Caged Lion: Joseph Pilates and His Legacy by John Howard Steel and Joseph Pilates: A Biography by Eva Renke (translated from German by Esther Ziegler).