Decision making in Pilates

Abstract

In a February edition of Sports Illustrated, the journalist Wernick (1962) described his regular sessions in New York with the ‘gruff, Teutonic,’ Joseph Pilates. ‘Contrology’ was the exercise system developed by Joseph Pilates that is now commonly known by his last name. Wernick says in his article, ‘Don’t ask me what contrology is. Don’t ask Joe either, for orderly exposition is not his specialty. Contrology has something to do with rational tension and relaxation of the muscles, and it comes from a profound knowledge of bodily kinetics learned in no classroom. Joe figured out the principles.in Germany by watching children at play and animals in the forest.’ Wernick concluded that the highest accolade Joe could ‘bellow’ after the eventual, successful demonstration of an exercise, worked on for some time was, ‘Now you are an animal!’ The Pilates discipline is still a relatively young profession with a burgeoning scientific proof, largely ‘borrowed’ from motor control research, as there is limited high quality research defending the technique (Bernardo, 2007). It is perhaps similar to complementary therapies that have valuable input in treating and preventing a myriad of conditions, syndromes or injuries but have yet to fully convince the world of science of their rightful places in ‘evidence based practice.’ After Joseph Pilates death his technique was initially taught to others by his protegees: Mary Bowen, Ron Fletcher, Eve Gentry, Kathy Grant, Romana Kryzanowska, Lolita san Miguel, Carola Trier. Some sources, such as the Pilates Method Alliance, refer to some or all of the Protegees as ‘Elders.’ I interviewed Fritzke and Voogt (2007), Pilates Teachers (developers of the Triadball), in 2007 at a Body Control Pilates Conference in London. Fritzke and Voogt had come to