The Michael Miller Pilates Instructor’s Manual Handout

Introduction

Joseph Pilates was a survivor.

His method is survival training.

My view of Pilates comes from the idea

My approach, my goals, my means, all come from the assumption that there is an ideal nature within the tradition.

If I am correct, the more you come to understand my view of Pilates the clearer your view of Pilates will become.

And the great thing about Pilates as an idea, is that an idea protects itself. Who you are and the value of what you know can never be marginalized.

Set down everything you know about Pilates. Learn this view of Pilates as an idea. Then see if it helps you be a better Pilates instructor. The clarification of the tradition as an idea is my contribution to the Pilates community. The idea itself, has always been, and will always be directly from Joseph Pilates to you.

The Why, the What, and the So What?

Why we do Pilates

Survive

Gravity

What is Pilates

Joe’s definition of his method

The definition of the idea

“Contrology is uniform eccentric loading flowing through progressive patterns of movement.”

The Idea is based upon three things directly from Joseph Pilates.

Uniform

Eccentric

Loading

Flowing through

Progressive patterns of movement

So What if Pilates is an idea?

The Idea explains

The Idea shows you how

One Point, Two Points, back to the One Point

One Point is the Core

Two Points is Cornu

Back to the One Point of Torsion

Effective Pilates

Knowing the target

Fun

Control

Knowing how to hit the target

Knowing the difference between teaching and instructing

Teaching

Instructing

Teaching how to listen, what to listen to, how to take more control, and to know when to move on