How to achieve Contrology?

Return to life through contrology ~ Joseph Pilates

Contrology is the complete coordination of the body and the mind. ~ Joseph Pilates

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Let’s talk about Contrology for a second -the original name of Pilates. It defines the ultimate goal of practicing Pilates – gaining complete control over the body and the mind. We all know the feeling of being in control of our bodies right? In the same way, we also know how it feels not to have control over our bodies. So how do we make sure we keep moving towards Contrology? As we transition the reformer repertoire to the mat (sans spring), we’re gonna learn what it takes to achieve that.

To maintain control over our body requires a long term practice. @jeaniquepilates

“How many beginners are amazed and chagrined

(even trained athletes in the public eye) to discover how few (if any)

Contrology exercises they are able to execute properly!

Their previous failure to exercise regularly

and properly, or their method of training, has not helped them.” Joseph Pilates

Keep an open mind

When you’ve exercised all your life, it’s natural to feel confident (sometimes overconfident) to take on other exercise regimes. I know those feelings because I experienced them when I began my Pilates practice? But the thing is I also felt disappointed. Based on my perceived strength, my body didn’t respond the way I wished it would. How many of you’ve experienced this? Yes, I know you feel let down. Well, don’t feel bad it’s normal. To this day, this experience taught me that to maintain control over my body requires long term practice, to commit and open my mind. I also remember those thoughts, “I have been dancing and exercising for a long time, why is this thing bloody hard yet it looks so simple”, they made me feel depressed. It wasn’t until I decided to drop what I thought I knew and open myself to learning that I understood Joe’s quote ” Contrology is a complete coordination of the body and the mind.”

Be patient with yourself

It takes a lifetime to achieve complete coordination of the mind and body. Imagine trying to control 7 trillion nerves. This is what we’re trying to achieve each time we practice Pilates. So to understand the depth of this quote, I decided to look at the repertoire with a fresh pair of eyes.

Straight after my training, I went on to restart my workout from scratch. In my head, I acted as if as I was new to Pilates, with no knowledge and no experience. I explored, dismantled each exercise in each repertoire on both mat and equipment. I researched, looked around within other methods for answers. And as I did this, I started seeing the pattern coming alive. I began to understand why the order built on top of each other, was to help me deepen certain areas in my body. Why there were so much curling and capital C, why there were little reps, and why we should synchronize breathing and movement. Before I knew it, I started to see what they mean by that. “Joseph was a genius and his work was 50 years ahead of his time”. My faith in the method grew stronger and stronger. Yet I was still frustrated. One day I felt that I own it and the next I brain turned upside down. But despite it all, I also witnessed the changes that were occurring in me. Some exercises were challenging me to bend more, to soften more. My strength was different. I no longer did the exercises as a means to an end. My body was evolving in a way that still have the words to explain yet.

“Remember, too, that “Rome was not built in a day,” and that patience and persistence are vital qualities in the ultimate successful accomplishment of any worthwhile endeavor.”

Stay committed to the work.

My mentor’s voice kept me on track though. The transition she would say is part of the exercise, “The order is what enables the body to progress through that journey.’ Hold those legs from your center Jeanique – which translates to be in charge and carry yourself, lift your whole self, control, breathe, don’t lean on your legs. Of course none of us gets all this it straight from the beginning. Our body and mind are conditioned with so much information already and bad habits that we’ve acquired since birth that we need a total rewiring – body and mind, and that takes time. That’s why most people give up. Because we’ve been trained to feel the burn and if the feeling is subtle that means we’re not doing much. I’ve always loved the spring support because of the way it acts as a third muscle to carry me. But now that it’s not there anymore how do we go on to lift ourselves. That is our goal to focus and commit to our connections while we move and carry ourselves. The brain likes to complain and will talk you out of it but you need to rise above it. In the end, teachers are only guides they point you to the door but if you want to see what’s behind the door, YOU need to use your hand to turn the nob and open the door. This beautiful quote from Amy sums it up.

” YOU are in control of your body, you use your mind to control your body.

And that’s what creates your precision, awareness of the nervous system & clarity.

That is a natural result of doing Pilates well”.

So let me ask you today, what’s your idea of control, what do you want to achieve, how can you challenge yourself this week to be your own teacher. How can you do this video while being your own teacher, how can you stay committed and focused to the end without letting your brain talk you out of it. Let me know the one step that you gonna take this week.

Xo

Jeanique



“Empower yourself and become the person you’ve always known you were meant to be! Believe.”

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