Reformer Pilates - where did it come from?

Reformer Pilates was created by Joseph Pilates - his method was called Contrology and he believed that this method of exercise was what would heal the world: everyone needed to do Contrology! The universal reformer was just one of the pieces of equipment that Joe had in his gym and was a firm favourite of many of his students, with many waiting at busy times to get their turn on the reformer.

Since Joe's death, Reformer Pilates along with the other equipment and mat Pilates have morphed into the huge variety of options that are available to us today. From Classical to Contemporary and now Dynamic and Athletic styles of classes.

Ballet and dancers influenced the early Classical style of Pilates where an emphasis is placed on the aesthetics, beauty and fluidity of movements. When physiotherapists became enamoured with the benefits of Pilates (from around the 1980s-90s ) it became all about precise, controlled movements targeting small muscles for rehabilitation - this was the contemporary era. Now we are passed this phase and there are many more classes which are bringing back more of the original style with gymnastic and athletic movements on the reformer - as Joe used it in Contrology. We are also seeing more functional movements on the reformer providing dynamic and athletic style workouts which focus on strengthening the body and even increasing cardiovascular endurance.

There is a lot of 'history' about Joseph Pilates and the origins of his method online and in various books. There have been court battles with claims being made about who owns Pilates and who can teach it. If you have any interest in the history of Pilates - whether you're a Pilates lover or Pilates instructor - I highly recommend reading this book: Caged Lion: Joseph Pilates and His Legacy by John Howard Steel. John was a student and friend of Joseph and Clara Pilates and had a unique insight into their lives. He provides a first-hand perspective into their lives and views. It's fascinating and challenges many of the widely held beliefs about the origins of Pilates.

There are many discussions about which type or school of Pilates is best, the original, the only way... Steel says this simply isn't what Joe would have wanted or believed. Pilates is for everyone and for it to be for everyone there must be different styles, different teachers, different emphases. We are not the same, we do not enjoy the same things, how can we expect that one specific style of Pilates is the holy grail?!

Having so many different styles and schools of Pilates is wonderful! It gives us choice and variety. It means that if we try Pilates and don't enjoy it, we can try a class with someone else and find a perfect fit! Every teacher has their own experience, their own personality, their own real interests and those will make an impression on their clients. That will be motivating and encouraging and the glue that keeps that community alive. There is no need for bad-mouthing of different schools, methods or teachers. It is unnecessary and - in my opinion - only shows weakness and insecurities in those who protest.

Find what you love and you will keep doing it.

Consistency is what will give you the results you want (whatever your goals are). Choose to do what you enjoy and find a teacher who inspires and motivates you.

Does this mean that as Pilates instructors we should just mindlessly stick to what we were taught in our first teacher training courses? Absolutely not! Critical thinking and continuing education are vital for all fitness and health professionals. If a course was written based on "up-to-date scientific evidence" but that evidence was current in the 1990s then it is no longer valid. That was over 30 years ago! Think about how much our knowledge evolves in that time. Many Pilates courses are based on principles that were in fashion during the 1990s and 2000s but they have in recent years been proven to be inaccurate based on high-quality scientific research.

Neutral pelvis is just one example. Have you every been to a Pilates class where the instructor had you put your hands on your pelvis and made a triangle and ask you to find neutral pelvis? I can bet you have! And maybe you - like me - have taught that in the past because that's what we were taught in our original Pilates qualification courses. The fact is there is no such thing as neutral pelvis - you cannot find it and no teacher or physiotherapist can look at your pelvis and tell you if you are in neutral or not. So, if that's not accurate and we are putting fearful ideas into peoples' minds (make sure you're in neutral pelvis so you don't hurt your back) we are doing a disservice to those who trust us by perpetuating these ideas, and more than that, we could actually be causing them harm.

I believe that all Pilates and fitness instructors are well-meaning and want to help people - no-one is putting fear in clients' minds for the fun of it - but there needs to be a change. Courses need to be updated and instructors and teachers need to start thinking critically and stop just accepting being spoon-fed.

This is why we have created a Reformer course that challenges these outdated ideas - we don't want people to be fearful of moving! We want people to be surprised by what their body can do, challenged to do fun and playful movements without rigidity and being told it's wrong.

Our Reformer course will challenge what you've been taught in your fitness, pilates or yoga qualifications but we are not here to tell you what is wrong or right, just to open your mind to alternative ideas and start you on the journey to critical thinking. We will not spoon-feed you. We will give you tools and the confidence to use the reformer in creative and effective ways so that you can help your clients achieve their goals, whatever they are.

Want to join us? Check out our Reformer Instructor Training Course dates.