Pilates' Return to Life Through Contrology: Revised Edition for the 21st Century

by Joseph Pilates, Lin Van Heuit-Robbins

First published in 1945, Pilates' Return to Life Through Contrology contains the authorized, legal, edited, and original Library of Congress version of Joseph H. Pilates' and William J. Miller's first complete fitness writings. It details the exercises, poses, and instructions fundamental to the matwork developed by Joseph and Clara Pilates. Based on his concepts of a balanced body and mind, and drawn from the approach espoused by the early Greeks, these are the exercises that continue to sustain a worldwide revolution in fitness strategies and exercise techniques. Joseph Pilates has been nothing short of revolutionary in his impact on the world of fitness and exercise. Readers will learn and view the original 34 exercises that Pilates taught to his students, many of whom have become exercise gurus in their own right. These carefully designed exercises constitute the results of decades of scientific study and research into the variety of physical ills that upset the balance of body and mind.Practitioners of Pilates' forms and exercises in the 21st century continue to expand upon this earlier work by presenting a variety of creative new approaches involving circular movements, standing postures, and core strengthening exercises using props such as tubes, weights, poles, bands, magic circles, mini-balls, stability balls, foam rollers, and more.Now included in this Revised Edition are 18 additional pages of explanations of what has transpired since the original 1945 work, along with several photo/text sequences of the latest 21st-century enhancements in the Pilates world. There are new descriptive pages of text that first describe the fitness principles evolved from Pilates' original Contrology work. This is followed by detailed text describing 21st-century evolutionary developments that present the key dancers, choreographers, and leaders in the Pilates Studio and certifying organizations through the present. This section ends with a discussion of evolutionary props and apparatus developments, plus 21st-century sample exercises drawn from our larger new book, Pilates Evolution for the 21st Century. Following this section are three complete prop-based demonstration exercises that include both photographic sequences (four per exercise) and step-by-step instructions for 21st-century Pilates exercises using the magic circle, elastic resistance, and the small fitness mini-ball.

112 pages, Paperback

First published June 21, 2012

Reviews

[Katie Pottekkat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The original information in this book is so valuable! Unfortunately, I was unimpressed by the revised & expanded parts of this book (poor writing, inconsistent formatting).

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered Pilates this year and it’s not an exaggeration to say it’s changed my fitness life. Prior to this I appreciated the necessity of a good daily stretching regime, but I was using ad hoc stuff from youtube, and bundled Pilates in with yoga. Then I discovered an incredible Pilates teacher and she recommended that I read this. I’ve done reformer and bands and magic circles, but it all comes back to these 34 exercises.

Plus, the introduction is wild. It’s like mindfulness for 1940s men, I am living. He emphasises the importance of play! He wants you to stay present in the moment! He also wants you to exercise ONLY wearing shorts. I think athleisurewear would have given him a small stroke.

‘Physical fitness can neither be acquired by wishful thinking nor by outright purchase.’

‘Ideally, our muscles should obey our will. Reasonably, our will should not be dominated by the reflex actions of our muscles.’

‘[...] always keep your mind wholly concentrated on the purpose of the exercises as you perform them.’

‘Walking, the only exercise activity common to most of us, employs only a limited number of muscles. WIth repetition the art of walking becomes a subconscious habit, not infrequently a bad one, and only too often accompanied by poor posture.’

HAHAHAHA I SAY THIS ABOUT FIFTEEN TIMES A DAY AND PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS SO OFFENDED.

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joseph Pilates is a bit eccentric, but there's a reason people continue to practice Pilates.

The simple breakdown of the exercises makes it easy to understand, and the background on Contrology is fascinating. This book helps you understand why this practice is truly encompassing for the mind, body, and spirit.