The Journey of Pilates: A Personal Exploration of Movement and Healing

Understanding the Roots of Pilates and Physical Therapy

The profession of physical therapy began in the early 1900s. Physical therapists played a crucial role in helping patients recover from polio and rehabilitating soldiers returning from the First World War. Interestingly, this history parallels that of Pilates. Joe Pilates developed his “Contrology” method as a rehabilitative exercise following the flu epidemic and World War I. His goal was to create a balance of the body and mind through a method that remains revelatory.

Pilates, a true believer in his method, knew it was transformative. He once wrote in a promotional pamphlet in 1934, “All new ideas are revolutionary. When the theory responsible for them is proved through practical application, it requires only time for them to develop and to flourish.”

While many view physical therapy as a hard science, Pilates often gets categorized as a trendy workout, sometimes associated with strip malls or Instagram fads. However, both physical therapy and Pilates can be art forms, natural healing practices, or straightforward workout regimens. Let’s be honest, they can also feel like a chore at times.

The Distinction Between Pilates and Physical Therapy

Unlike Pilates, physical therapy is legitimized by regulatory bodies and PhDs. Pilates certifications, on the other hand, can be obtained in a single weekend. It’s a gift from capitalism! Alternatively, one can study comprehensively for a minimum of 750 hours or through 2.5+ year apprenticeships.

Historically, Pilates has lacked regulatory agencies. The movement has been passed down from mentor to mentor, person to person. Regulation is still in its infancy within our industry. I taught Pilates through the UW Madison Continuing Education Department without a certification over 20 years ago, when it was pretty standard not to require one. Today, there is active regulatory work within the industry. Yet, I’d argue that the absence of a trademark has fostered creativity and innovation in pedagogy—qualities often found outside regulatory bodies.

Humans are unique and often require a tailored approach. Much of medicine is based on averages, but we are not average. For instance, a T-score for bone density is derived from an average taken from primarily white women of a specific socio-economic background. Evidence is mounting that the T-score is not the best diagnostic parameter for clinical decision-making. Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor about this!

The Importance of Understanding Your Body

My average temperature of 97.6°F is expected, while 98.6°F is merely an average. “That original study in the 1860s was done before antibiotics were available. Therefore, many people had infections that couldn’t be treated, which would have affected their temperatures if they were chronically sick,” says Heidi Zapata, MD, PhD, a Yale Medicine infectious disease specialist.

As Pilates instructors, we are not allowed to "diagnose or treat," but we can address the underlying causes of repetitive injuries or chronic pain. Excellent physical therapists also manage the “why” behind these issues. I keep a list of excellent PTs practicing in Madison, but addressing the “why” is often not easily billable. Have you ever wondered why you and your PT only work on one side of the body when healing a muscle or joint issue? Most often, your insurance does not cover time spent on the other side.

One significant issue in how we approach healthcare is that we are not taught to see our bodies as our lifelong responsibilities. It can be a confusing and adventure-filled responsibility, where both good and bad luck play a role. Why do we rely on someone in a building to be the expert on this organism we’ve experienced our entire lives? It’s a perplexing cognitive dissonance. We have unique fingerprints and tongues, yet we all chase the same T-score.

Empowering Yourself Through Movement

In life, we embark on an experiential journey with our bodies, rewarded with a place to live and endless sensations. With Pilates or any mind-body practice, you can begin a relationship with your body beyond simple good and bad sensations. You can learn to care for and alleviate your aches and pains independently. Empowerment!

I thought I knew my body as a lifelong dancer, but that assumption held me back for years. I completed choreography and felt advanced until two pivotal moments occurred. My mentor, Michelle Larson, told me that during her time as a teacher trainer, she had never seen Pilates faked so beautifully. That was my favorite “aha” moment—transforming confusion into an explosive truth bomb filled with forward momentum.

A few years later, I taught at a primarily Peak Pilates studio in the D.C. area, equipped with beautiful apparatus. (Please don’t call it a “machine”; a machine does something for you on its own.) I would love to be invited to your next party! But while I wait, have you tried Pilates?

The Significance of Quality Instruction

My final point is this: just like physical therapy exercises, how you do Pilates matters. Who you practice with also matters. You matter.

Do your research, have fun, and remember that you don’t need to commit to a specific studio or instructor. Learn broadly. However, please seek instructors who are comprehensively trained. Ask them how often they practice on their own.

Check in with your unique self every day. Please feel free to reach out or stop by the studio to learn more!

Love,

Caroline and Zoey