17/10/2026
Pilates principles as taught by our team that sit at the heart of the original method.
1. Strength with control
You don’t just throw a weight around or rush through repetitions. You control the movement, including the return and work to maintain sound alignment. The exercise should be deliberate, not sloppy.
2. A strong centre
The abdominal muscles, back and muscles supporting the pelvis and spine work together to stabilise the trunk. This is not about sucking in your stomach all day; it’s about having a strong, controlled base from which to move.
3. Mobility and strength together
Joe wanted muscles that could generate force without sacrificing freedom of movement. Strength and flexibility weren’t opposing goals; they were meant to complement one another.
4. Resistance and precision
His apparatus used springs, straps and moving carriages to provide resistance and assistance. The aim was to train the body as an integrated system rather than isolate muscles in the way many conventional gym routines do.
5. Breathing and concentration
Breathing, attention and movement were coordinated. The goal was to develop awareness and control in order that better movement became something you could carry into everyday life.