Catégorie : Articles en anglais

 

Pilates is above all a global, coherent, and deeply thought-out system, designed by Joseph Pilates as a method to strengthen the body, improve posture, mobility, and overall health. Each exercise, each detail of alignment or breathing, is an opportunity to refine body awareness. The work often begins with forgotten areas, such as the toes or ankles, and then expands to the overall alignment of the body, the activation of the “powerhouse” and spinal mobility. This progressive and precise approach allows everyone, regardless of level, to embrace the fundamental principles of Pilates: centering, control, concentration, precision, flow, and breathing.

Joseph Pilates did not only create exercises on the mat, but also developed a series of specific apparatuses—such as the Reformer, Cadillac, Wunda Chair, Barrels, and the Guillotine—each playing a precise role in the evolution of the practice.

Matwork vs. Apparatus: two complementary approaches

Matwork exercises (on the floor with a mat) develop core strength, motor control, and endurance using body weight. In contrast, spring-based apparatus such as the Reformer or Cadillac add adjustable resistance or support depending on the practitioner’s level, allowing exploration of movement with greater range, precision, or load.

Both approaches complement one another: Matwork refines stability and body awareness, while the apparatus provides postural guidance, either facilitating or challenging movement as needed. Together, they embody the progressive and structured logic of the Pilates system, as its founder envisioned.

Until recently, Pilates apparatus were less known to the general public than matwork, as they were used mainly in private or duet sessions. Most people associated the word Pilates with matwork exercises, often practiced in group classes.  But in recent years, apparatus work has gained recognition, and very recently Reformer group classes have multiplied throughout the world.

The Reformer: an iconic apparatus

The Reformer is one of the most emblematic pieces of the method. With its moving carriage, adjustable springs, and straps, it allows deep muscular work while improving posture, flexibility, and balance. It encourages fluid, controlled movements with tailored resistance, strengthening muscles without harmful impact on the joints.

Other apparatus: depth and precision of practice

The Cadillac (and Wall Units)

The Cadillac is a central apparatus in the classical method, designed to guide, correct, and strengthen through a system of suspended springs. In smaller studios, it is often replaced by a wall-mounted version, the Wall Unit, which allows much of the same work while saving space. Both provide support and resistance, improve postural alignment, stability, and flexibility, and strongly engage the powerhouse.  Some Cadillac exercises cannot be performed on the wall unit; however many studios offer group classes using the wall unit and combining matwork with exercises traditionally performed on the Cadillac.

 

The Chairs

• Wunda Chair

The Wunda Chair is both compact and extremely demanding. It allows work in seated, standing, or lying positions, intensely engaging the core while strengthening the arms, legs, and postural muscles. It is ideal for developing functional strength, balance, and coordination in a minimalist format.

• Baby Chair

The Baby Chair (or Arm Chair) is less known than the Wunda or High Chair. It mainly targets the upper body, promotes chest opening, and strengthens the arms, shoulders, and postural muscles. Its work is subtle, precise, and often overlooked, yet highly effective, particularly for correcting slumped postures or relieving neck tension.

• High Chair

The High Chair, also called the Electric Chair, is a powerful apparatus combining resistance and support. With its backrest, pedal, and springs, it provides a stable framework for strengthening postural alignment and developing functional strength, especially in the legs, trunk, and shoulder girdle. It allows both standing and seated exercises, making it particularly useful for improving balance and proprioception.

 

The Barrels: mobilizing the spine and opening the upper body and hips

• Ladder Barrel

The Ladder Barrel combines a vertical ladder with a rounded barrel, forming an ideal tool to stretch and strengthen the back, hips, legs, and shoulders. It promotes spinal lengthening while emphasizing fluidity and control of movement. Exercises on the Ladder Barrel enhance body awareness and help restore a natural, balanced posture.

• Spine Corrector

The Spine Corrector was designed to improve spinal mobility, open the chest and hips, and strengthen the deep core muscles. Its curved shape allows gentle exploration of back and hip extensions. It also helps work on breathing, pelvic stability, and movement fluidity, while respecting the spine’s natural curves and correcting postural imbalances.

• Small Barrels

Small Barrels are small arcs designed to support the natural curves of the spine. They allow extension and side-bending exercises while respecting spinal alignment. They are particularly effective for loosening the back, opening the chest and hips, releasing tension, and deepening body awareness.

A method to be rediscovered as a whole

To truly understand and integrate the benefits of Pilates, it is essential to approach it as a complete system, just as Joseph Pilates envisioned it. Matwork, apparatus, breathing, movement control, and body awareness form an inseparable whole. By combining the different formats and tools, one discovers the full richness, logic, and depth of this timeless method.

Reformer Pilates: between method and fitness

Today, many studios and gyms offer what they call “Reformer Pilates,” often a very dynamic practice focused on quick toning and physical intensity. While these classes can be effective for muscular conditioning, they sometimes stray from the essence of the method: conscious work centered on precision, breathing, control, and the mind-body connection.

Joseph Pilates never designed his method as a simple series of exercises, but as a complete system of health and well-being, with logical progression, fine attention to alignment, and impeccable movement quality. Practicing only on the Reformer, in a fitness-oriented way, without knowledge of the other apparatus or Matwork, means discovering only a superficial part of the richness of classical Pilates.

Number of participants on Reformers: safety and quality

It is essential not to overcrowd Reformer classes, particularly for safety reasons. While highly effective, this apparatus requires attentive supervision, especially for less experienced practitioners. Too many participants limit the teacher’s ability to observe, correct, and adjust individually, increasing the risk of poorly executed movements or even injuries.

Beyond safety, overly large groups also make it harder to give clear instructions and personalized corrections. This can affect the quality of instruction and slow progress. In contrast, smaller groups allow more precise teaching, individualized attention, and a safer, more effective practice.

Private or semi-private lessons: which approach to choose?

In private or duet/trio lessons, the work is entirely personalized. The teacher adapts exercises according to specific needs, conditions, and goals, using the full range of apparatus and ensuring precise, safe guidance.

In small group classes (often 6 to 8 people), you benefit from individualized supervision while enjoying the group’s energy. The small numbers allow the teacher to give tailored guidance. However, the work is generally limited to Matwork (and more recently Reformer exercises in some studios) with small props, without access to the full range of apparatus.

How to choose?

• Private sessions are ideal if you have specific goals (rehabilitation, performance, posture, targeted physical preparation). The teacher adapts every exercise to your body and needs. This option is also best if you have physical limitations or conditions. It is the most expensive, but offers tailored guidance, highly effective for quick progress or correcting deep imbalances.
• Small group are perfectly suited for regular, motivating, and structured practice, with personalized support within a small group. This option is possible even with certain physical limitations, as long as they are minor or well understood, and the teacher is informed beforehand. More affordable, small group sessions still allow for good individualized attention while sharing the cost.  Often studios offer duets and trios on the apparatus.

Whether you choose group, private sessions or duets/trios, it is essential to keep in mind that quality of movement matters more than quantity. By respecting the spirit of the method and exploring its many facets, everyone can gain lasting benefits adapted to their needs, abilities, and pace. Rediscovering the full depth of the Pilates method also honors its creator’s legacy, helping each person find a strong, mobile, aligned, and aware body.

 

Very likely you have never heard of Pilates’ Magic Square. The Magic Square is undoubtedly one of Joe’s least known apparatus, although others have also “disappeared”. I first became intrigued with the Magic Square in April 2022 when my friend Elaine Ewing revealed her discovery of a series of five color photos of Joe that were previously unknown to the Pilates community. One of the photos in the collection (by photographer John Lindquist) had been circulating for years but only in black and white. Lindquist was the staff photographer for the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, where he worked for 42 summers photographing numerous renowned dancers and choreographers. The black and white photo shows Joe with several of his small apparatus. He holds up his Posture and Poise Apparatus (also known as the headpiece) with one hand. The neck stretcher hangs from a branch. The magic circle is propped against the branch and Joe squeezes an object between his knees. 

Until 2022, I had assumed that Joe was squeezing the tensometer — a piece of exercise equipment he patented in 1938 that is believed to be the precursor to the magic circle. The color version of the Lindquist photos revealed that the object in question was not in fact the tensometer, but the Magic Square. You can also see the Magic Square in the series of photos of opera singer Roberta Peters taken by photographer Michel Rougier in 1941 for Life magazine, but it is in the background. Joe referred to a number of his small apparatus as “Magic Squares”, including the toe and hand tensometers and the neck stretcher, due to their square shape; however, this article specifically references the apparatus depicted in the sources described above. 

The newly-discovered Lindquist photos brought to light exciting details about the mysterious apparatus. The square uses an extension spring, like the neck stretcher and toe gizmo. The spring, however, is stretched not by pulling on the sides, but by squeezing them, similarly to the hand tensometer, which had also disappeared from public view for many decades but is enjoying a recent revival. The magic circle, in contrast, uses steel bands that act like compression springs. Of Joe’s apparatus, only the foot corrector and the magic circle do not use extension springs.

When I first saw the Lindquist photos, I thought it would be simple and “fun” to recreate the Magic Square. (I must admit that now I chuckle at the naiveté). Breaking out my ruler, I “guesstimated” the dimensions by comparing the square to the neck stretcher and magic circle in the photo. I contacted the Spanish Pilates equipment maker, Arregon Pilates, which is run by a dynamic mother/daughter duo and was one of the first companies to produce classical Pilates equipment in Europe. This was not Arregon’s first foray into reviving extinct archival Pilates equipment at my behest. They had recently produced an interpretation of the Divana (an apparatus combining a mat, small barrel and reformer), as well as a wunda chair with swiveling archival handles. I knew that they were as passionate about the Pilates method and its history as I was. I sent them what I thought were accurate(ish) measurements, although they examined the photos to produce their own conclusions. It soon became clear that making Pilates equipment was not the “simple” endeavor that I imagined. It took months to produce a first prototype. The mechanism was infinitely more intricate than anticipated and developing the proper spring tension was an arduous task. Unlike the neck stretcher or other apparatus, the differences in tension did not merely result in an easier or more difficult workout; the square would not work at all if the tension wasn’t right. Additionally, the assembly was complicated, expensive and time-consuming. Arregon produced several prototypes, but they were not perfect, and we were striving for perfection.

Photo by John Lindquist at Houghton Library, Harvard University

Now, approximately two years after the discovery of the photos, Arregon has launched the Magic Square and the result has proven to be well worth the wait. It is truly a work of art. While it is impossible to create a true replica without an original model, it is important to remember that almost none of the equipment in use today, including the most “classical” pieces, are true replicas of Joe’s originals. That includes the large apparatus such as the reformer, the Cadillac (the springs are different), the chairs, the ped-o-pul and the barrels, and also the small pieces such the toe gizmo and the neck stretcher. There have been some replicas based on original pieces, but in the five decades after Joe’s death, most of the equipment evolved differently than what he originally created. 

Much of the arm work and inner thigh work that we do with the magic circle can be done with the Magic Square, although the spring evokes a wholly different sensation than the compression bands used for the circle. Mastery of the Magic Square spring demands a great deal more control than the magic circle. It is quite challenging and requires some time and experimentation. Of course, that is part of the fun. Joe called his method Contrology for a reason, after all😉. It will be interesting to adapt some of the wunda chair exercises to the square although purists might frown at the idea 😜. 

Why did the Magic Square disappear? Could it be that Joe found it less useful than the magic circle? Possibly, but there is little to substantiate this theory. The circle does appear in the archives more than the square, but not much more. To my knowledge, only one original circle from Joe has survived, suggesting that Joe did not make many circles. We do know that Carola had several, but we do not know if these were created during Joe’s lifetime. The popularity of the circle is largely due to Romana, who may have chosen to reproduce the magic circle and not the square because it was easier and cheaper to make. Similarly, the ped-o-pul that we use in most studios is not the sophisticated, adjustable one with the bike seat (which had all but disappeared before it was re-created several years ago), but the simpler, less expensive version. Although Romana adapted the circle to many of the mat exercises, Joe’s use of it was much more limited. In fact, many of the creative ways in which we use the circle might be risky with an original circle of steel and wood.

Although don’t know when Joe first invented the Magic Square, the Lindquist photos are from 1940, and the Life magazine spread appeared in 1951, eleven years later. This confirms that the Magic Square was not something that Joe discarded. The Square is not demonstrated in the Life photo shoot, but it does appear to be strategically placed in the photos, which suggests that Joe wanted it to be visible. We will probably never resolve the mystery of the Magic Square; however, we are now able to once again partake of its magic. Thanks to the talent and tenacity of the team at Arregon Pilates, the Magic Square has returned to life.

About the author

Rebekah is a supremely gifted and multifaceted human being. So accomplished, in fact, that listing her achievements would require a separate volume — possibly with an index. For now, you should know she was voted “Best All-Around” in preschool and has heroically saved more than one ladybug.

Her kindness to animals is legendary — so much so that she’s earned a lifetime exemption from being nice to humans.  The word most often used to describe her is “enchanting,” though “delightful” is a close second.

Rebekah teaches Pilates in her intimate (read small) home studio in France, where she somehow manages to teach over 200 hours a week, while dealing with four needy kids and a complicated dog.  She has managed to cram an extraordinary amount of equipment into her tiny space.  Motto – where there’s a will, there’s space. Students know better than to question her authority or mock her accent, unless they’re prepared to do extra teasers… or mysteriously disappear. We tried to follow up with a few who had, but strangely, they’re no longer reachable.  Her students call her Big Sister, not because of her charming personality but because she sees everything.  She knows when you are sleeping.  She knows when you’re awake.  She knows when you are cheating so don’t you dare, for goodness sake!

Negativity, Toxicity and the Weaponization of Social Media in the Pilates Community

Remember when social media used to be ….fun? Seems like eons ago, right? I’ve been on social media probably  11 years. At first, it was fabulous, reigniting old friendships, forging new ones. I was particularly chuffed to connect with fellow Pilates teachers from around the globe.  Pre-Facebook, I had participated in the now defunct Pilates Connections forum online, but the Pilates Facebook community numbered in the hundreds, then thousands. It was exciting to discuss Pilates 24/7.  I even co-founded my own forum with some friends,  the Pilates Book Review and Discussion Club.  Of course, there were arguments, but the positive largely outweighed the negative.  And disagreements are natural and even healthy.  Listening to and considering viewpoints that differ from our own help us grow as individuals and become more open-minded  and tolerant.  The forums abounded with lively and sometimes hilarious discussions about whether to wear shoes while teaching, best cues for the pelvic floor (“winking the anus”).  We started having Friday questions, a great and fun way to interact with other Pilates  geeks, learn more about the history of Pilates and early forms of physical culture.    There were also technical  and business questions.   The forums were informative and amusing.

The honeymoon phase was unfortunately short-lived.   Lively discussions turned heated, and then venomous.   I learned that there was a classical and contemporary Pilates divide.  People were kicked off of some forums or left of their own volition to create new ones. In this new social media world existed  forums for classical Pilates teachers,  forums for contemporary  teachers, forums for contemporary teachers who wanted to become classical,  forums for people with no particular affiliation.  I realized that each “camp” felt bullied and derided by the others, and that many believed and loudly trumpeted their belief in the superiority of their training. I participated in all of the forums,  choosing to interact with a variety of people instead of isolating myself among teachers who had the same training that I had. Some of the discussions in which I did get involved in were animated, and at times, tense;  but overall, I mostly managed to avoid being sucked into conflict.  I was fairly successful at maintaining friendships with diverse people, although some of them actively disliked each other.  The key was not taking “sides” and recognizing that there were many viewpoints.

During the last few years,  navigating the tricky Pilates waters became increasingly challenging. Facebook had already become  rife with bitter disputes about politics and,  more recently,  subjects relating to the pandemic- masks, vaccination….  Although I used to enjoy the occasional debate (I used to be in the debate and Model UN teams in high school, and am an ex-lawyer),  these arguments were neither productive nor constructive.  I made a personal decision to avoid hot topics on social media and firmly resolved to distance myself from any Pilates disputes. My activity became limited to liking pictures of babies and pets, although I did and still do run a Pilates forum in France where most people tend to get along.  Meanwhile, the  old debates among the Pilates community about what was better, classical or contemporary, raged on and also gave way to new debates along similar lines, but now with “factions”.  Additionally, newer teachers criticized older ones as being out of touch with science, and older teachers derided newer ones as being too far from the source to have anything important to share.  Participants began to weaponize social media not only on Facebook but also on Instagram which initially was a safe haven where people just shared pretty pictures. Now began a new era of name calling and finger pointing and passive-aggressive (and sometimes simply aggressive) Instagram stories.   Social media was officially no longer fun.  The negativity and toxicity within these forums was magnified compared to the “real world “, as hiding behind a screen and trading barbs online is easier than having a meaningful conversation.  This  made the forums a stressful rather than safe and funspace to share. Even a seemingly benign act like « liking » or sharing a post became interpreted as choosing  “sides”. Friendships became alliances.  Dislikes became enemies.  The result was inevitably an acute decline in social media activity.

The decline in social media activity is obviously a result of  multiple factors. Pilates teachers are more worried about staying healthy and keeping their families and  businesses alive during COVID  than participating in petty disputes on social media. But in addition to having less time for digital interaction, there is unquestionably a social media burnout.  It is a shame because we need each other more than ever.   As we are reopening our businesses and trying to recover from a very difficult couple of years and also to integrate online classes into our business models,  it  is increasingly important that members of the Pilates community remain united. Most of us did not get into this business to make a fortune, but rather to help others move and feel better in their bodies. We don’t have time to reopen old wounds or inflict new ones.  It is unhealthy and we should be using our energy and resources to help each other rebuild. 

We need to get back to doing to using our tools and skills to be productive and helpful to our families, our friend, colleagues and students.  You may be asking yourself, “who is this Rebekah person and why is she so self righteous ?” The answer is that I am no one and yet I am  everyone.  I’m not famous nor do I aspire to be famous. I’m just a mother of four kids (and a dog).   I also am a Pilates teacher. My goals are to become the best version of myself as a teacher and a person, to help my students and my fellow teachers if and when I can. Probably your goals are pretty similar. So the next time you find yourself on social media ready to make a great clap-back  or even  encourage or “like” a negative or divisive post,  ask yourself the important questions:  

Who is this helping? 

Is it really  worth it?  

I think you may realize the value in stepping back.  And moving on.  If you think I’m  sticking my head in the sand,   I’m okay with that.  I have plenty of toys in my Pilates sandbox with which to play and hopefully, plenty of pals who want to do the same.  Let’s remember why we became teachers.

Life is short.

Just keep calm and do Pilates.

About the Author

Rebekah is a supremely talented and accomplished human being. In fact, she is so accomplished that to list her myriad accomplishments would take too much time. Suffice it to say that she was voted best all-around in preschool and has saved a ladybug on more than one occasion. She is so nice to animals that she does not even have to be nice to other people. She does not post many pictures on facebook because she does not want others to feel bad about themselves. The word that people use most frequently to describe her is enchanting, although delightful is a close second. She teaches Pilates in her home studio in France (over 200 hours a week), where she is not above making her students do extra teasers if they question her authority or mock her accent. Yes, rumor has it that a few people have apparently dared mock her, but when we went to question them, we couldn’t find them anymore. *note- for those of you who don’t know me, this bio is meant to be humorous and there is no intention to offend animals, ladybugs or humans.