What Is “Classical” Pilates?
By Deborah Slade, APOGEE Pilates Instructor
You may have heard that there are “different kinds” of Pilates out there. It’s true that you will experience various approaches from studio to studio. As Pilates has moved into the fitness mainstream, Joe Pilates’ original vision has been infused with different styles and philosophies. While there is value in other interpretations of the method, few would argue the importance of continuing to teach and promote the “classical” Pilates tradition, which advocates performing the exercises in the exact manner and sequence prescribed by the master himself, which is how we teach at APOGEE.
What are the fundamental principles of Pilates that define the classical approach? Pilates is, above all else, a vigorous workout. The main focus is always movement, although it can be modified to complement physical therapy or address chronic illness. It is also holistic. The exercises were designed to be part of a larger system—performed in a progressive sequence without any extraneous motions and with very few repetitions. Each exercise has its own rhythm, details and dynamic and requires tremendous concentration to execute, which is why you’ll rarely hear music in a classical Pilates studio.
Flow is a central element of the original method. The transitions within and between exercises should be seamless and, when done properly, have an artistic, almost choreographic quality. Also, since Joe Pilates designed and redesigned the various apparatus to suit his exercises, teachers of classical Pilates believe it should only be practiced on equipment that honors his original blueprints.
To those who might be concerned that the spirit and vocabulary of Joe Pilates will be forgotten, Dr. Howard Sichel, founder Power Pilates, a classical Pilates training company, and executive vice president of APOGEE Life Style, offers reassurance: “Classical Pilates is so rich in layers and so successful in changing people’s lives that, just like Shakespeare, it will continue to be discovered and embraced by each new generation.”
