When I was first introduced to Pilates, I quickly saw the value of the method, but I also quickly discovered that there are different kinds of Pilates. Naturally, in the desire to be a Pilates “Purist”, I figured that Classical Pilates would be the best. After all, it’s classical.
As my education continued, I learned that this is not necessarily the case. Joe Pilates trained many people, and while he had a classic order for his exercises, it may look differently for the injured dancer than it would for an office worker with back pain.
After Joe’s death, to make a long story short, several people he had trained carried on his work, and from there, it has continued to morph over time. Joe Pilates only ever certified two people to teach his method. These were Kathleen Grant, and Lolita San Miguel.
The Elders and Their Legacy
In all, there are/were seven Pilates elders – a term that honestly struck me as odd at first.
It’s nothing mystical.
All it means, is that seven people are recognized as having learned to teach Pilates from Joe himself.
As I understand it, Classical Pilates follows Pilates as Romana Kryzanowska, one of these seven people taught it. The other elders are Eve Gentry, Carola Trier, Ron Fletcher, Mary Bowen, and as mentioned, Lolita San Miguel and Kathleen Grant.
At the time of this writing, Lolita San Miguel still trains Pilates instructors. One of my mentors was trained by Mrs San Miguel, making her a “second generation” Pilates instructor, and me a third generation instructor.
As my training continued through the Balanced Body program, I learned more about what makes “good” Pilates. Here are some things to look for:
Safety
A couple of Joe’s original exercises have been removed, changed slightly, or may need to be modified at times. Part of this is due to the bodies of today’s society, vs the bodies of the 1960s. Part of it is due to further study, and a better understanding of muscles and fascia.
Flow
Joe’s method was not just a series of exercises. It was a series of exercises with flow. One could proceed through the routine, working the whole body, and each exercise flowing one into the next.
While order may be changed, flow should still be considered, as this is part of the whole experience, and the more you mess with the flow, the less time you spend in the exercises.
Know the Exercises
While it may be fun and even good to mix it up and add in new and creative variations to the exercises, it is important to know the original version first, so that you know when something is different.
Just like a banker knows the real money so well that they feel the counterfeit immediately, so one must know the exercises as they are supposed to be, so that the method remains consistent. If changes are made, it should be noted as such.
This is why I say, and I learned it from my teachers, that YouTube is a wild frontier when it comes to Pilates. People get on there and do all kinds of things that aren’t correct. Sometimes they are also not safe. So users beware.
High Standard
It’s one of my main goals with this website and accompanying videos and materials to be accurate to the best of my ability, so that you will know the real thing, minimize risk for yourself as you practice, and that you may experience the best possible Pilates if a private session in a studio is not an option for you.
I also want my materials to be accurate for other aspiring instructors, so that they will have an affordable way to continue their education and accumulate the observation and personal session hours needed for certification.
For Happy Bodies,
Melanie
