Body, Mind, & Soul Pilates Studio

Happy Holidays!

Happy Birthday Joe!

Happy birthday to this whisky-drinking, cigar-smoking bad ass. He loved body-building, martial arts, gymnastics and boxing. Before coming to NY, he made a living as a circus performer and self-defense trainer for police. When he was sent to an internment camp for German citizens in England during WW1, he used his time to work with fellow inmates and develop his “contrology” exercise system. He fled Germany and immigrated to NYC in the 20s, where he was embraced by the performing arts community (including many dancers who went on the teach and share his work). He believed that “modern” culture, incorrect posture and poor breathing habits were at the root of health problems. He believed in dry brushing and keeping skin/pores clean and free from lotions. He believed you should spend as much time as possible outdoors, in the sunshine and fresh air, and walked around in his skivvies everywhere including the streets of New York, year round. The Contrology system, later named “Pilates,” used the mind to control the body and focused on deep core abdominal muscles to build full-body strength and improve stamina. He used everything from bed springs to whisky kegs to create his apparatuses. He was a true inventor. So you see, Pilates is not about stretching. Yes, you get more flexible, but it’s not the point. It’s a fiercely challenging, yet incredibly rewarding exercise system that helps people achieve their maximum physical potential. You’ll be sweating from the smallest movements, and using your entire body to move a single limb, but after 30 lessons, every single move you make in your life will be easier.

A little Pilates history for your Saturday morning. The man behind it all......

Joseph Pilates found himself in England when WW1 broke out - some say he was traveling with his circus, others say he was there as a professional boxer and even owned a boxing gym - whatever the reason, he, along with all other German citizens, was interned by British authorities.

As weeks turned to years, he watched those around him crumble into a state of despair, their health and hope deteriorating. He noticed that the emaciated cats in the jail, despite a lack of food and meek conditions, remained springy and agile, while the men around him lay lifeless. Inspired by their resilience, he began to move, stretching his muscles, moving his joints... developing and refining what later became his “contrology” (now “Pilates”) system. The men in his cell block began to join in. Under Joes watchful eye they slowly but surely became as alert and agile as those cats and when a great influenza epidemic swept through England and the camp, killing thousands, not one of Joe’s trainees died. In fact, they left the camp healthier than they went in. .

After World War I, he went back to Germany where he collaborated with experts in dance and physical exercise, trained police officers in Hamburg, and developed the first of the apparatus inventions he dreamed up while interned. But he didn’t stay in Germany long... Word spread of the remarkable results he was seeing, and the German government began pressuring him to train the German army.

Not happy with the direction the German government was headed, he fled to the United States, land of free and home of the brave, to settle in under the bright lights of New York City, to realize his dream, open a gym and apply for more patents for his exercise apparatus inventions.
The rest is history.

Pilates is great for ALL the things.

Nine Ways Pilates Improves Your S*x Life It is not about building bulging muscles (there's a joke there, but I am going to leave that one alone... too soon). In addition to relieving incontinence, pila

We have gift certificates here at the studio waiting for you!

5 Reasons To Give Pilates For The Holidays (according to Joseph PIlates) Pilates is the perfect gift for loved ones and friends. If they already do Pilates, there is no better gift than... more Pilates classes! (Read: 5 Gift Ideas Th

By popular demand, we have some new aerial yoga/Pilates classes on the schedule!
Starting this week 10/9:
Tuesdays noon.
Thursdays 9am.
Sundays 9am.
Some knowledge of yoga and/or Pilates is helpful but not required.
Spaces are limited so reserve your spot by sending a pm or contact the studio at (314)995-7020.
Private and group lessons are available too!

Fun at the studio😀