Originally published in 1945 as: Return to Life Through Contrology

Updated with a new introduction by Judd Robbins and Lin Van Heuit-Robbins

This book represents the first major publication in 1945 by Joseph H. Pilates and William J. Miller detailing the exercises, poses, and instructions fundamental to the matwork developed by Joseph and clara Pilates. Based on his concepts of a balanced body and mind, drawn from the appraoch espoused by the early greeks, these are the exercises that currently sustain a worldwide revolution in fitnes strategies and exercise and techniques.

Joseph Pilates has been nothing short of revoutionary in his impact on the world of fitness and exercise. You will learn in this book the original 34 exercises that he taught to his studens, many of whom have become exercise gurus in their own right. These carefully designed exercises constitute the results of decades of scientific study, experimentation and research into the variety of physical ills that upset the balance of body and mind.

Pilates makes extraordinary claims about the benefits of his defined science of 'Contrology.' The exercises shown in this book constitute the breadth of his original definitions of Contrology, and are basic to the growing army of worldwide trainers whose teachings rely on the intructions contained in this book. Living testimony to the validity of his own teachings, the photographs of this book are of Joseph Pilates himself at age sixty!

In this book, you will learn the exercises that Joseph Pilates recommended to accompany the basic advice (offered separately in his book, Your Health) regarding posture, body mechanics, correct breathing, spinal flexibility, and physical education. It is fascinating to study these exercises and to discover the origins of what is being taught by fitness enthusiasts, health educators, and exercise trainers around the world.

Contents

Return to life through contrology
Civilization imparts physical fitness
Contrology restores physical fitness
Guiding principles of contrology
Bodily house-cleaning with blood circulation
Results of contrology
The exercises
1 The hundred
2 The roll up
3 The roll over with legs spread (both ways)
4 The one leg circle (Both ways)
5 Rolling back
6 The one leg stretch
7 The double leg stretch
8 The spine stretch
9 Rocker with oen legs
10 The cork-screw
11 The saw
12 The swan-dive
13 The one leg kick
14 The double kick
15 The neck pull
16 The scissors
17 The bicycle
18 The shoulder bridge
19 The spine twist
20 The jack knife
21 The side kick
22 The teaser
23 The hip twist with stretched arms
24 Swimming
25 The leg-pull-Front
26 The leg-pull
27 The side kick kneeling
28 The side bend
29 The boomerang
30 The seal
31 The crab
32 The rocking
33 The control balance
34 The push up

jfc this is CRIMINALLY underrated; this book should b read in public schools!! the intro can b a little polemical, but honestly, western conceptions of physical fitness could use some more mystical philosophizing!! the US has even sapped fucking yoga of its spiritual content -_-

ive been to a buncha pilates classes, and this is NOT what they teach there. pilates goal was for these exercises to b simple and concise enough for autodidacts or minimal instruction, which does not much benefit a profit-driven fitness industry

the mix of well-known common sense exercises and absolutely wild, bizarre exercises demonstrates how original and deep contrology is

and pilates publications r no-frills. hes got a bit of philosophical exposition, and then it dives immediately into the exercises, with just the rite mix of elaboration and concision ( )