First published in 1945, this new printing of the first major publication by Joseph H. Pilates and William J. Miller 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 currently sustain a worldwide revolution in fitness strategies and exercise techniques. Readers will learn 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 are the result of decades of scientific study, experimentation and research into the variety of physical ills that upset the balance of body and mind. In this book, readers will learn the exercises that Joseph Pilates recommended to accompany the basic advice regarding posture, body mechanics, correct breathing, spinal flexibility, and physical education.
If your instructor isn't classically trained (which takes up to 2 years), RUN!
Those of us who went through the Pilates Studio training spent up to 2 years of study, auditions, and internship just to get our original certifications. The practice is actually called Contrology, but so many people just called it Pilates (after Joe), that when his estate tried to get the name copyrighted, a very naive judge threw the case out of court, saying the name "Pilates" was as well known as "yoga" and therefore could not be copyrighted. From then on, Stott, Winsor, and other "Pilates" companies popped up, adding exercises that had nothing to do with Contrology. Also, gyms started certifying "Pilates instructors" over weekend seminars. Many "instructors" have never even used the Gratz equipment which is a necessary component to the Pilates mat (mat first, then equipment).
Return to Life was written by Joseph Pilates back in 1945 when he was 60 years old. Contrology, as he called it back then, became the basis for our modern day Pilates. Many of the principles introduced then have been brought forward into how we practice today, while others were slightly changed, refined, or modernized as we learned more about the various systems of the body.
The style of writing immediately struck me as old fashioned as it was originally written in 1945. While oftentimes a bit wordy in trying to get his point across, the writing was still typical of it's time, whereas today we focus on employing as few words as possible to get our point across. Unfortunately, it sometimes got a bit tedious in the reading, waiting for him to get to the point with all the comparisons and examples, and often taking 500 words to say something that today we could easily get across in 100. But then again, seeing as exercise and fitness was not a common subject of the time, perhaps these people needed it hammered into their head in such a way!
Joseph continually emphasized proper breathing technique, and breathing through the exercises—though we've refined that a bit more today to incorporate what we call 360 degree breathing. Balance is another key concept in his work—balanced muscles, balanced body, balanced mind—and was essential to bring to life your otherwise dormant muscles for optimal balance, health, and better brain functioning. He touches on improved blood circulation and talks about brushing with a stiff brush in the shower, what we refer to today as dry brushing or lymph node brushing. Definitely a pioneer of his time.
A few things that have evolved from his original exercises have more to do with specifics of how they're performed. For example, in many of the exercise descriptions, he says to flatten your spine to the floor, whereas today we often work in a neutral spine for some of these same poses. In addition, when legs are extended, he advises to lock your knees. Perhaps the meaning was different back then, but in today's terminology, locking your knees often leads to hyperextension in many people so we don't really use that term anymore.
Going forward, I'd like to see more men practicing Pilates. It certainly appears that Joseph focused more on men in his original design. Of the men practicing today, at least they seem to understand some of the main principles behind Joseph's work and it's value in overall wellness. As a Pilates Instructor, I hope to help spread that word far and wide, and prove that Pilates is not just for women.
Joseph Pilates was indeed a pioneer of his time, and were he alive today, I'm sure he'd be extremely happy at how his work has progressed while still remaining true to his original vision.
I really just read the first 24 pages, which is the actual writing part of the book. It was very interesting and motivating! It really explains in very plain terms why Pilates is an important form of exercise, and really reaffirmed the fact that it is something I really, really enjoy doing. I have looked through the exercises a couple times since I got the book from the library, and I know many of them so I saw no reason to read through it again, but I would LOVE to own this book as a reference. Even though I'm sure there are much more modern Pilates instructional books out there, this is the original and well worth the read!
As a Pilates Instructor, I find the work of Joseph Pilates to be astute and important. In this tiny book he talks about the schism between society and physical fitness and introduces some of his basic Mat repetoire. If you enjoy Pilates and want to go a little deeper this book is for you. If you have been interested in why MindBody health is such a phenomena, this book is for you as well.
It was so great to read Joseph Pilates’ words and understand the thinking behind his fundamental movements and flows. I’ve been doing reformer Pilates and loving it, but this book reminded me of the purpose, focus, and thinking behind every routine. Highly recommended to anyone who is passionate about holistic fitness. The introduction is even more valuable than the explanations of the exercises.
If you’re a Pilates wonk, you’ll love this book. If not, you’ll find the writing a bit stilted and dictatorial. The photos for the exercises are good for review if you know the mat repertoire already.
the actual writing was scarily prescient commentary on the divide between modern life and physical fitness, but combined with slight pseudoscience and obviously dated musings. interesting to see the origins of, but not necessarily something I’d stick to.
Listen to me: this is a fun read if you’re into Pilates and would like to read Joe’s original words. I’ve been doing Pilates for more than 20 years, and got a kick out of this book. It was written in 1945 and reads like it. I do NOT recommend anyone using this book to actually *learn* how to do Pilates exercises. I was self taught using Brooke Siler’s “The Pilates Body” book, which I HIGHLY recommend for learning purposes.
A LOT has changed in the Pilates method (and there’s a TON of drama if you like that thing) over the decades. If you are someone who prefers classical Pilates versus contemporary like I do (if you don’t know what this means, don’t worry), I HIGHLY recommend my current teacher, Lesley Logan. She has flashcards of all kinds and runs OPC (Online Pilates Classes), where you can sign up and take classes. Lesley is classically trained (2nd gen) and inclusive.
If you’re a Pilates nerd and could talk about it all day, check this book out.
The essay that introduces the book was fantastic. Really good pacing, clear metaphors, addresses important points.
The exercises themselves are pretty dated, but the underlying philosophy of developing fitness as a lifestyle, with the goal being a vigorous body, can drive development of any number of variations of the specific exercises.
Joe Pilates kind of bridges some eastern/western attitudes, and also masculine/feminine. It’s kind of disappointing that more modern fitness classes aren’t explicitly focused on bringing balance and vigor to the body.
In honor of March MATness, my Pilates instructor recommended this book to me. While the time in which it was written is evident by its simplistic language (and possibly also to translation, as English was not Pilates' first language), the ideas and theories of health and physical fitness promoted by Joseph Pilates still ring true today. It is an excellent accompaniment to daily practice, and a necessary component to understanding the classical method.
I'm new to Pilates. I have dabbled in the past here and there, but this is my first time getting "serious" about it. I've been reading loads on it and thought I should read the original. This book just gives directions on Joseph H Pilates' exercises. The directions are well written, there are some cautions. However, there are no modifications. There is no background, not fleshing out of the material. It's small, so a good travel book for exercise reference, but not much more.
If you’re into Pilates, this book is a must. It explains not just the exercises, but the whole philosophy behind them. It’s super helpful whether you’re practicing on your own or teaching others. Easy to read, inspiring, and full of tips for building healthier habits. Definitely worth it if you want to go a little deeper!
Don't get this book as an introduction to pilates, but rather a helpful supplement to an established pilates routine. Doing and watching and repeating is how I learn and so reading this helped inform that regimen, but wouldn't be an ideal orientation to pilates the way a video (or doing) would be.
Read because I’m a Pilates instructor. Would not really recommend unless someone really wanted to get to know Joseph Pilates original thoughts. Some of which are funny and show his quirkiness and some have aged really well.
This book effectively illustrates Joseph Pilates' authentic concept of contrology and how the exercises contribute to maintaining a more vibrant and adaptable lifestyle. The modern version of Pilates has undergone significant transformations since its inception in 1945. It has sparked my curiosity to explore further methods of the original mat workouts.
A must-read if you care about moving with purpose. Return to Life Through Contrology is where it all started — focused, intentional, and timeless. Pilates reminds us that real strength begins with control!
I strongly recommend this book to anyone who practices Pilates regularly and wants to learn more about Joe Pilates. The book is informative, interesting and well written.