In Joe's Words
“[Pilates] is not ‘medicine’ or even ‘physical therapy.’ For its aim is not specifically corrective but generally body-building and coordinating. Hence its users are neither ‘patients’ not ‘treated.’ Each student is given as nearly as possible the same regimen, and in kinds and amounts equal to his or her requirements under careful supervision.”
“In addition to its general rejuvenating powers, [Pilates] renders its users mobile to degrees hardly approached by other Western body-improvement systems. Hence can they the more easily and quickly perform any task, acquire any desired physical skill. And better preserve their own bodies from injury.”
Our Approach
At CFP, we strive to honor the brilliance of the original Pilates Method of Body Conditioning that Joe Pilates termed Contrology. We teach the original exercise order with a focus on the principles from Return to Life. Our educational lineage comes through Amy Taylor Alpers and Rachel Taylor Segel from Pilates elder Romana Kryzanowska. Tailoring our approach to fit the unique needs of each human body, we focus on building Uniform Development around each joint, freeing the full breath capacity, discovering tensile strength--flexible, vibrant, fluent, core strength--in short, Returning to LIFE as Joseph Pilates directed.
We believe in Movement Education toward True Health. That means we practice purposeful, healthy movement in contrast to the automatic movements our bodies repeat every day. As teachers we promise to uncover ever deeper layers of movement awareness in order to continue to reduce imbalances in our own and our clients' bodies. As teachers, we continue to practice!
Pilates does not over-fatigue muscles. It is invigorating! Pilates does not involve sustained stretching. We MOVE! Pilates does not treat posture as a fixed position in space. Posture is dynamic, relational in space! Pilates does not contort the body into painful poses. We expand, explore and open the body, increasing range and power by understanding the mind-body connection.
“The Pilates method is a system of movement and therapeutic exercise developed over a span of 60 years by German-born athlete and physical therapy pioneer, Joseph H. Pilates. Utilizing the specialized equipment he designed, the method works by toning muscles as well as balancing muscular force at the joint level. It stimulates circulation through facilitating muscular flexibility, joint range of motion and proper musculoskeletal alignment. In addition, it promotes new neuromuscular patterns, heightened body awareness, and more precise coordination. All these things combine to help prevent future injury and reduce - even in some cases alleviate - chronic pain altogether.”