Joseph Pilates and the Myth of the Six Principles
- Ole Euegnio
- Sep 28
- 3 min read
If you’ve ever dipped into Pilates teacher training or browsed a studio brochure, you’ve likely come across the famous six principles of Pilates:
Breathing
Concentration
Control
Precision
Centering
Flow
It’s often said that Joseph Pilates himself laid down these six rules as the foundation of his method. Here’s the twist: he didn’t.
Where the Six Principles Really Came From
The “six principles” were first introduced in 1980—thirteen years after Joseph Pilates’ death—in a book called The Pilates Method of Physical and Mental Conditioning by Philip Friedman and Gail Eisen, two students of Romana Kryzanowska, Joseph’s protégé.
The authors needed a way to explain the essence of Pilates to a mainstream audience. The six principles worked well as a teaching framework, and they’ve since become a staple of Pilates education worldwide. But they were never codified by Joseph Pilates himself.
So yes, technically, you could demonstrate all six while eating a burrito—and it still wouldn’t make your lunch Pilates.
What Joseph Pilates Did Write About
Joseph Pilates wasn’t known for neatly packaged lists. In fact, in a 1962 Sports Illustrated article, after working with him, the writer admitted:
“Don’t ask me what Contrology is. Don’t ask Joe either, for orderly exposition is not one of his talents.”
That sums it up well. His language could be fiery, scattered, and philosophical. But when you look at his books—Your Health (1934) and Return to Life Through Contrology (1945)—you see a clear vision of what he called Contrology:
“Contrology is the complete coordination of body, mind, and spirit.” (Your Health, Ch. 3)
He elaborated further in Your Health, particularly in Chapters 3 and 5, where he emphasized:
Conscious control of all muscular movements
Correct use of skeletal leverage and bone alignment
Knowledge of the body’s mechanisms and function
Understanding equilibrium and gravity—whether moving, resting, or sleeping
Proper breathing: how to inhale and exhale naturally and fully
Awareness of when to create muscle tension and when to release it
This wasn’t a checklist—it was a philosophy. A way of living and moving that required discipline, practice, and awareness.
The Bigger Picture: Pilates as a System
When we reframe Pilates through Joseph’s own words, it becomes less about six abstract principles and more about a methodical system he called Contrology.
The “principles” Friedman and Eisen coined aren’t wrong—they reflect real qualities embedded in the exercises. Concentration, precision, control, and breath absolutely show up in the work. But Joseph’s original intention was broader:
To harmonize mind and body.
To build strength, flexibility, and endurance through correct movement.
To create a state of natural rhythm and balance.
It’s not theory alone—it’s practice. As he himself wrote in Return to Life:
“Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.”
Why This Matters Today
Modern Pilates has inherited the six principles as teaching shorthand. They’re accessible, easy to remember, and help guide beginners. But if we stop there, we miss the richness of Joseph’s own philosophy.
His method was about transformation through systematic practice—on the Mat, on the Reformer, on the Cadillac, on the Chair, and beyond. The coordination of body and mind wasn’t a catchphrase; it was the goal.
So next time someone tells you Pilates is “just about breathing and flow,” remember: Joseph was aiming at something deeper—the art and science of living in conscious control of your body.
And while you can apply concentration, precision, and flow to eating a burrito…Joseph Pilates would probably tell you to put it down and get back to your Hundred.
Research Sources
Joseph Pilates, Your Health (1934)
Joseph Pilates, Return to Life Through Contrology (1945)
Philip Friedman & Gail Eisen, The Pilates Method of Physical and Mental Conditioning (1980)
Sports Illustrated, “Second Coming of Pilates?” (1962 feature)
Late-20th century Pilates teacher training materials (Romana Kryzanowska lineage)
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