Nothing can render J. Pilates' philosophy, beliefs, and way of thinking better than his own words.[1]
FOR BREATHING
- «...Before one can derive any real benefit from physical exercises, they must first learn how to breathe properly. Our very lives depend on it...".
- «...Above all, learn how to breathe properly...".
- «...Lazy breathing transforms the lungs, literally and figuratively, into a cemetery for the deposition of diseases, dying and dead microbes, and provides an ideal shelter for the poliferation of other harmful microbes...".
- «...The lungs cannot empty completely at first without considerable effort. However, with perseverance, the desired results can be achieved and with increasing strength, gradually and progressively, the lungs can develop to their maximum capacity...".
- «...Breathing is the first and the last act of life...".
FOR THE SPINE AND POSTURE
- «...A man is only as young as his spine. '
- «...If your spine is stiff at 30, you're old. If it's completely flexible at 60, you're young...".
- «...You are as old as your spine...".
- «...Due to poor posture, almost 95% of our population suffers from varying degrees of spinal curvature, not to mention more serious conditions. Good posture can only be successfully acquired when the entire body mechanism is under perfect control...".
- «...Never slouch, as this compresses the lungs, squeezes other vital organs, rounds the back and throws you out of balance...".
- «...Good posture can only be achieved successfully when the entire body mechanism is under perfect control...".
FOR GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION
- «...Physical fitness can neither be achieved by wishful thinking nor bought...".
- «...Physical fitness is the first condition for happiness...".
- «...Our interpretation of fitness is to achieve and maintain a uniformly developed body with a healthy mind fully capable of physically, easily and satisfactorily performing our many and varied daily tasks, with spontaneous cheerfulness and pleasure...".
- «...A man must develop his natural state at the same time as that of his mind...".
FOR HEALTH
- «...Not only is health a normal state, but it is our duty to achieve it and to maintain it...".
- «...I must be right. I never even took an aspirin. I've never been hurt a day in my life. The whole country, the whole world, should do my exercises. They would be happier...".
- «... By exercising your abdominal muscles, you squeeze the body, you don't get cold, you don't get cancer, you don't get hernias. Do animals get hernias? Do animals diet?".
- «...It is better to be tired of physical effort than to be tired of the "poisons" created by nervousness while awake...".
- «...By all means, never forget to have as much sunshine and fresh air as you can...".
- «...Every day, from sunrise to sunset, radio, newspapers and magazines broadcast to the world how to maintain health, how to regain health… conflicting information, expressing the different views of these various health authorities, has proven to be nothing less than confusion…”
- "We retire too early and die too young, the prime of our lives must be in our 70s and old age must not come until we are almost 100...".
- «...A man should keep in mind and consider the Greek admonition "Not too much, not too little"...".
FOR CONTROLOGY
(the original name of his method)
- «...Contrology is designed to give you flexibility, natural grace and skills that will undoubtedly be reflected in the way you walk, the way you play and the way you work... ».
- «...Contrology is the complete coordination of body, mind and spirit. Through Contrology you first deliberately gain full control of your body and then through the correct repetition of its exercises you gradually and progressively acquire this natural rhythm and coordination associated with all your subconscious activities...".
- «...Contrology is the complete coordination of body, soul and spirit...".
- «...Contrology teaches you to be in control of your body, not at its mercy...".
- «...Contrology is not a random exercise system designed to produce only bulging muscles... Neither is Contrology wrong by overgrowth of some muscles at the expense of all others, resulting in loss of grace and flexibility, or sacrifice of the heart or lungs. Instead, it was designed to contract and stretch muscles and ligaments so that your body is as supple as that of a cat and not as muscular as that of a horse, a brewing truck or the muscular body of a professional you admire so much in the circus...".
- «...This is the equivalent of an indoor shower. Just as the spring freshness generated by the heavy rainfall and the huge masses of snow that melt in the inland mountains force rivers to swell and rush turbulently towards the sea, so your blood will flow with renewed vigor as a direct result of your faithful performance in the Contrology exercises...".
- «...Through Contrology this unique triad of a balanced body, mind and spirit can be achieved. Self-confidence follows...".
- «...The self-confidence, the balance, the consciousness of having the power to fulfill our desires, with a renewed lively interest in life, are the natural results of the practice of Contrology...".
- «...Contrology develops the body evenly, corrects wrong postures, restores physical vitality, stimulates the mind, and elevates the spirit. ”
- «...My method leads to the domination of your mind over the complete control of your body...".
- «...Just as a strong storm refreshes the water of a slow or stagnant stream and hits it in direct action, Contrology exercises cleanse the bloodstream...".
- «...The science of Contrology denies this widespread and very trivial saying: “You are as old as you feel.” The art of Contrology proves that the only real guide to your real age does not lie in the years or how you THINK you feel, but in fact in the degree of physical and normal flexibility your spine enjoys throughout your life...".
- «...Acquiring and enjoying physical well-being, peace of mind, and spiritual peace are invaluable to their possessors, if there is anyone so fortunate to live among us today. However, it is ideal to pursue, and in my opinion, only through Contrology can this unique triad of a balanced body, mind and spirit ever be achieved...".
FOR MOVEMENTS, MUSCLES AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE
- «...Focus on the right moves every time you exercise, so as not to make them inappropriate and thus lose all the vital benefits of their value...".
- «...Focus on the right movement every time you exercise, lest you make it inappropriate and thus lose all the vital benefits. When performed correctly and mastered to the point of subconscious reaction, these exercises will reflect grace and balance in your daily activities. ”
- «...Some well-designed movements, executed correctly in a balanced sequence, are worth hours of sloppy aesthetics or forced exercise...".
- «...I learned…every part of the body. I moved every part of the body as I memorized it. As a child, I lay in the woods for hours, hiding and watching the animals move, how the mother taught her cubs...".
- «...Normal muscles should function naturally in the same way as animal muscles...".
- «...When all your muscles are properly developed, you will, of course, perform your work with minimal effort and maximum pleasure...".
- «...Ideally, our muscles should obey our will. Reasonably, our will should not be dominated by the reflex actions of our muscles...".
- «...True flexibility can only be achieved when all muscles are evenly developed...".
FOR CHANGE, SPIRIT AND HUMAN POTENTIAL
- «...Change occurs through movement and movement heals...".
- «...You'll feel better in ten sessions, look better in twenty sessions, and have a whole new body in thirty sessions…”.
- «...To achieve the highest achievements within the scope of our capabilities in all areas of life, we must constantly strive to acquire strong, healthy bodies and develop our minds to the limits of our capabilities…”.
- «...It is the mind itself that shapes the body...".
- «...The spirit, when kept in a healthy body, has a glorious sense of strength...".
- «...The acquisition and enjoyment of physical well-being, peace of mind and serenity are invaluable to their owners...".
- «...If a man devotes as much time and energy to himself as he has dedicated to what they have created, what amazing and incredible progress would be made! A progress that overshadows everything they have successfully achieved so far..."
- «...Every moment of our lives can be the beginning of great things...".
FOR HAPPINESS, WELL-BEING AND SUCCESS
- «...Everyone is the architect of his own happiness...".
- «...Moreover, such a body free from nervous tension and excessive fatigue is the ideal shelter that nature provides to house a balanced mind that is always fully capable of successfully dealing with all the complex problems of modern life. ”
- «...Patience and perseverance are vital qualities for the eventual successful completion of any remarkable endeavor...".
- “With the body, mind and spirit functioning perfectly as a coordinated whole, what could reasonably be expected besides an active, alert, disciplined person?”
- «...Time and progress are synonymous - nothing can stop them. The truth will prevail and that is why I know that my teachings will reach the masses and will eventually be adopted as universal...".
- «...The man who uses intelligence in relation to his diet, his sleep habits, and where he exercises properly, is beyond doubt that he is taking the best preventive drugs so freely and abundantly provided by nature. ”
- «...I am fifty years ahead of my time...".
[1] Gleanings of phrases and speeches from J.H. Pilates' books, various interviews, and primary reports.
