Pilates as Retelling: Contrology, Classical, Contemporary

When we talk about Pilates, we’re not only talking about movement—we’re talking about a lineage, a storytelling tradition carried through bodies, voices, and practice. Like all traditions, Pilates has evolved as it was retold: from Contrology (the original work of Joseph Pilates), to Classical Pilates (as preserved and taught by his direct students), to Contemporary Pilates (shaped by science, rehabilitation, and modern teaching).

To honor this history, we need to look at the key phases and the people who carried the work forward.

Contrology: Joseph Pilates’ Original Work

Joseph Hubertus Pilates (1883–1967) never called his method “Pilates.” He called it Contrology—“the complete coordination of body, mind, and spirit.”

• Foundations: Contrology was born out of his lifelong experimentation with physical culture, gymnastics, yoga, martial arts, and his own inventions.

• The System: Joe designed apparatus like the Reformer, Cadillac, and Wunda Chair to apply his principles of resistance, alignment, and breath.

• The Goal: He envisioned Contrology as not just exercise, but a way of life—a philosophy of whole-body health, discipline, and longevity.

Contrology was his story, his lived method.

Classical Pilates: The First Retelling

After Joe’s death in 1967, his students—often called the “Elders”—carried the method forward. Among them were Romana Kryzanowska, Carola Trier, Kathy Grant, Ron Fletcher, Eve Gentry, Jay Grimes, Lolita San Miguel, Bruce King, and others.

• Romana Kryzanowska in particular became the custodian of Joe’s New York studio and passed on what we now call the Classical Order on the Reformer and Mat.

• Carola Trier and Eve Gentry expanded the work into therapy and artistry.

• Ron Fletcher brought it into the dance world.

• Kathy Grant and Lolita San Miguel bridged into academia and formal education.

Classical Pilates is a retelling of Contrology—an effort to preserve Joe’s work as faithfully as possible, while inevitably reflecting the interpretations of each Elder.

Contemporary Pilates: The Modern Retelling

As Pilates spread globally through the late 20th century, new teachers—trained by the Elders—blended Joe’s system with emerging knowledge in rehabilitation, physical therapy, biomechanics, and fitness science.

• Balanced Body helped expand apparatus access by manufacturing equipment worldwide.

• Programs like STOTT, BASI, Polestar, Fletcher Pilates and others integrated contemporary anatomy and research.

• Teachers began to adapt exercises for modern populations: office workers, aging clients, athletes, and those in rehab.

This became known as Contemporary Pilates—a retelling of the Classical retelling, grounded in Joseph Pilates’ vision but reshaped by the needs of today.

Which Version Is Best?

This is where history and philosophy meet. Some argue that only Contrology—or Classical—represents the “true” Pilates. Others celebrate Contemporary for making the work accessible and science-informed.

The truth? There is no single “best” version.

• Contrology gives us the source.

• Classical Pilates gives us the lineage.

• Contemporary Pilates gives us adaptation and evolution.

Ultimately, the best Pilates is the one you practice—the one that transforms you, helps you move with strength, awareness, and longevity.

Why This Matters for Teachers and Students

For teachers, understanding this lineage is essential. It gives us roots. It reminds us that every cue, every exercise, every spring setting has a story. For students, it opens the door to curiosity—why does my teacher teach it this way? Where did this sequence come from?

Pilates isn’t static. It is living history in motion. And the story continues, every time you step on the Mat or Reformer.

Contrology was Joseph Pilates’ story. Classical Pilates is how his students retold it. Contemporary Pilates is how we retell them. The work lives on in your practice.