01/03/2026
When you dive deeper into Joseph Pilates’ philosophy through his writings, particularly in Return to Life, it’s interesting to see how the practices of Pilates and Ayurveda can compliment each other. While Joe is known for his exercise system and equipment, he was clear that movement is only one strand of a larger web of healthy daily and seasonal practices.
• Pilates emphasized that “proper diet and sufficient sleep must supplement our exercise,” echoing Ayurveda’s foundational teachings around aligned routines (ahara/diet, nidra/sleep, and vihara/daily habits).
• Both systems recognize the value of gentle movement after meals to support digestion and circulation, and both view recuperative sleep as essential for mental calm and nervous system balance.
• Pilates stated that the body “breathes through the pores of your skin,” which resonates with Ayurvedic practices that support circulation. His advocacy for dry brushing parallels Ayurveda’s use of garshana to stimulate lymph, awaken the tissues, and counter stagnation.
• Pilates’ seasonal advice, such as winter’s call to breathe properly, walk briskly, and move with intention, mirrors Ayurveda’s seasonal adjustments to routine and intensity.
• While the Pilates movement sequences remains relatively fixed, subtle energetic shifts in quality of movement and even choice of apparatus day to day and season to season can also harmonize with seasonal living the way that Ayurveda and yoga do.
Seen through this lens, Pilates becomes not just a fixed method but a living practice, one that can be adapted to daily and seasonal shifts and be practiced as a wholistic lifestyle. Practiced this way, Pilates and Ayurveda work in harmony, each reinforcing the other’s goal of cultivating resilience, clarity, and balanced vitality throughout the year.
To see how Pilates and Ayurveda can work together in your life, try my 6-week elemental reset, which blends Pilates instruction, Ayurvedic lifestyle coaching, and a bonus tarot reading. DM me for more information!
