This is one of the biggest questions and sources of controversy in this industry right now. “Pilates” has exploded in popularity recently, and there is a lot of confusion about what it is, exactly, because you can find so many different versions of ‘Pilates’ out there.
If you exercise, you have probably seen or experienced some form of ‘Pilates’ by now — either by watching videos of football players screaming in agony, trying a class at a local studio, or being around your friends who rave about it. Perhaps even your doctor or physical therapist has recommended that you try it.
When medical professionals recommend something to you, it makes sense to first understand what it really is …
So, what IS Pilates?
Sometimes, I don’t really know anymore. The original intent behind the practice — which was actually called ‘Contrology’, named by Joseph Pilates— was to increase people’s physical and mental fitness so that they could succeed in a rapidly-progressing and demanding world (Pilates and Miller). These days, the word is a hot label slapped on to any fitness class that targets ‘core work’ — but most of us who know the original work would say it’s much more than that.
We could assert that ‘Pilates’ is only the body of work that Joseph Pilates originally designed in the 1900s using all of the apparatuses and gadgets as needed: mat, reformer, cadillac, wunda chair, spine corrector, foot corrector, toe corrector … (do you see how comprehensive this work is, based on the equipment alone?). Or, we could expand the definition to include all of the modifications and accommodations that numerous instructors and their clients have improvised and devised, each created as a new need arose. We could further expand the definition of ‘Pilates’ to include the fusion of exercises used in modern fitness classes — maybe a donkey kick here, a squat & row there… but where does it stop? Where do we draw the lines between a ‘Pilates’ class, a ‘Pilates Fusion’ class, and simply a ‘Strength Training with a Moving Platform’ class? Wasn’t Pilates’ original work … a fusion in itself, derived from the various athletic practices that he engaged in? Or do we keep a tight lid on the exercises he designed, and call anything else a ‘variation’ or a ‘fusion’? I do not know the answer to this.
The word ‘Pilates’ does not have any trademark or copyright attached to it (although someone tried!) and it is such an amorphous industry that the word is easily used by anyone who wants to sell ‘Pilates’. But here is where I want to caution you — not all ‘Pilates’ is the same! Because there is so much variation and deviation from the original work, in addition to the word ‘Pilates’ being used for fitness classes that bear minimal resemblance to the original work, this recommendation becomes a potential source of miscommunication and confusion.
This is why, sometimes, I’m like … “I don’t know anymore”..
Even though I know what I’ve been trained in, and I know what classical teachers are trained in — the world around me is showing something completely different, yet calling it the same thing.
My training and teaching approach is based in Stott Pilates (also known as “Merrithew,” which an investment company purchased a majority stake in 2022). The brand is known for using contemporary adaptions of classical pilates exercises taught by Romana Kryzanowska, and uses elements of current research in fascia as a foundation for continued education. They’re also known for producing a ‘luxury fitness’ aesthetic, and supplying equipment for high-end Pilates studios. In the teacher training programs, we were trained to prioritize quality over quantity, and be detailed about our movements in every way possible. Although I deeply value and respect the training I have completed in the Stott program, I have friends and colleagues who have trained in other notable programs, and I have learned to appreciate the value they bring to the table: Balanced Body, Polestar, and Vintage Pilates, to name a few. Many programs are high quality — and many are not.
I teach in the middle ground of being diligent and proactive about my clients’ alignment and form, while allowing space for them to grow and learn. As a lifelong learner myself, I am patient and understanding when I am teaching my clients. Pilates is difficult, and challenges your body and mind at the same time (nothing worth having comes easy…). I choose to use a combination of my Pilates training, fascial movement theory, and strength and conditioning coaching techniques to help my clients achieve their goals and thrive.
Each teacher will have their own influences and styles. Some will have strong opinions on what constitutes Pilates, and some won’t care— as long as their clients are happy, and progress is being made.
Citations:
“History of Pilates.” Edited by Stacey Redfield, National Pilates Certification Program, Pilates Method Alliance, Inc., 2019, nationalpilatescertificationprogram.org/PMA/PMA/About/History-of-Pilates.aspx?hkey=fd57cd07-4353-481d-818e-25a0007d5de6.
Reprinted from the Appendix of the National Pilates Certification Program – Study Guide. 4th Edition ©2019 Pilates Method Alliance, Inc. (PMA).
Pilates, Joseph H., and William John Miller. Pilates’ Return to Life through Contrology. Presentation Dynamics, 2012.
First published in 1945 by J.J. Augustin
Stanley, Lawrence. “Pilates Trademark Lawsuit – Pilates Lawsuit – Balanced Body Inc.” Pilates Trademark Lawsuit – Pilates Lawsuit – Balanced Body Inc, www.pilates.com/the-pilates-lawsuit/. Accessed 1 Sept. 2025.