What is Pilates?

At Activelab, we borrow a number of exercises from classic Pilates, while making some changes of our own.

What is Pilates? It was created by Joe Pilates probably in the 1930s through the 50s, although Joe did not keep records, so we don’t know for sure. Joe Pilates invented several exercise apparatus, including the Wunda Chair, Reformer, Cadillac, Wall Unit, and Ladder Barrel. Many of his exercises focus on the stabilizing muscles of the spine.

For my money, if you want to understand Pilates, the best source is the book “Caged Lion”, by John Steele. Steele was a student and friend of Pilates. His book is a combination of history, memoir, investigative reporting, biography, and great read. We have a copy in the studio which we can loan out. Here is a recent interview with Steele, who is an elderly man now, but still does pilates on the reformer.

If I can paraphrase Steele, Pilates is a practice that asks you to focus fully and that takes you away from everything else in your life. There is no goal in pilates. Nobody is telling you are doing it right or wrong. It cleanses you somehow.

We hope that at ActiveLab, we capture some of that spirit.