Pilates DNA

Pilates DNA Classical Pilates taught by a second generation teacher and longtime student of Jay Grimes.

Is there more to Contrology than movement sequences?Yes. Emphatically, yes.Knowing the name of an exercise   and its mov...
07/22/2025

Is there more to Contrology than movement sequences?
Yes. Emphatically, yes.

Knowing the name of an exercise and its movement sequence doesn’t mean much on its own. A training manual can give you that. But that’s not how I teach.

I’m not here to recite names or shout generic cues. I’m here to observe, to guide, to zoom in on the patterns that hold you back or propel you forward, and to help you develop a practice that grows with you, challenges you, and supports you for life.

Is Pilates “corrective exercise”?That depends on how you define it, and more importantly, how you apply it.Lately, I’ve ...
07/16/2025

Is Pilates “corrective exercise”?
That depends on how you define it, and more importantly, how you apply it.

Lately, I’ve heard it said we should reject the term outright, arguing that “corrective” implies a rigid right vs. wrong. This binary might serve a good-vs-evil fairytale narrative but rarely holds up in real life (or in the body).

In the world I come from, which is shaped by Jay Grimes and rooted in Joe Pilates’ method, correction isn’t about nitpicking or pointing out flaws. It’s about observing, guiding, and knowing when someone is ready to progress. As Sandy Shimoda in her Contrology Handbook says (get the book ) :

“Rather than endeavoring to correct every part of your movement superficially, you allow the regular repetition of Joe’s exercise to correct your functioning over time.”

That’s the kind of correction I believe in: patient, practiced, earned. And yes, by that definition, Pilates is corrective exercise.

🧠 New blog post coming soon: Corrective Without the Complex.

Here’s this week’s Contrology group class schedule and a note that we are open on the 4th of July! Two spaces left in Fr...
07/02/2025

Here’s this week’s Contrology group class schedule and a note that we are open on the 4th of July! Two spaces left in Friday’s pop-up class at noon: come work on your independent Pilates practice before the bbq or picnic in the park. Get your annual fill of Lee Greenwood and then join us for our regularly scheduled class Saturday’s at 9am!

There’s a persistent misconception out there: that the original Pilates mat work is too basic, and the real work happens...
06/11/2025

There’s a persistent misconception out there: that the original Pilates mat work is too basic, and the real work happens on the equipment. Let’s clear that up:

The mat is the essence of the work and all of Joe’s other apparatus exist to offer precise levels of support and challenge that work to bring a body up to optimally performing the mat exercises.

The mat reveals everything — what you’re capable of, what needs work, and how well you—that is, how well your mind, body, and spirit—synthesize the method. The apparatus teaches the body how to get there. When practiced as a system, Pilates instructs the body to move through life with strength, grace, and vitality.

Group class schedule for next week: * The studio is open on Memorial Day day! Enjoy the light traffic Monday and join us...
05/25/2025

Group class schedule for next week:

* The studio is open on Memorial Day day! Enjoy the light traffic Monday and join us for Contrology group class at 10 am!

* Tuesday 9 am Keion teaches a Virtual Vintage Pilates class. Sign up through and deep dive into your practice and the exercise of the month!

* Top off the end of the work week and join us for Contrology Group Class at 3 pm.

***NEW CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT*** Starting May 31, Saturdays at 9 am Contrology Group Class co-taught by Keion and Jeane.

Decoding Pilates Marketing: How to Spot a True Pilates Expert——Looking for a place to practice Pilates? You might see cl...
05/19/2025

Decoding Pilates Marketing: How to Spot a True Pilates Expert

——

Looking for a place to practice Pilates? You might see claims like:
“We teach both classical and contemporary Pilates.”

Or: “Our studio is rooted in tradition, but with a modern twist.”

“Classically trained, contemporary approach.”

…Mmkay.

Here’s the truth: classical and contemporary Pilates are not compatible systems. To claim fluency in both as if they’re interchangeable styles is a false equivalence.

Classical Pilates (aka classic or traditional Pilates, the original method, Contrology) is a complete system with specific order, apparatus, and intent. Everything else—call it contemporary Pilates if you like—reinterprets, dilutes, or replaces key elements of that system.

To blend the two is to misrepresent the original method altogether. If you’re looking for the real thing, find a teacher who teaches it as it was meant to be: whole, rigorous, and uncompromised.

Pilates: an absolute wonder drug.
05/15/2025

Pilates: an absolute wonder drug.

pop up contrology group class!This Friday, May 9th @ 3PM!
05/08/2025

pop up contrology group class!

This Friday, May 9th @ 3PM!

The latest newsletter is out and features a great Q&A with apprentice Jeane Kim! Jeane is a unique find, having practice...
04/30/2025

The latest newsletter is out and features a great Q&A with apprentice Jeane Kim! Jeane is a unique find, having practiced the method extensively before becoming a teacher. Those who work with her recognize her deep knowledge and dedication to Contrology. We are so pleased to share more about Jeane’s journey with you. Check out her Q&A through the profile link.

This little gem of Pilates history arrived in the mail today 🙌 So interesting to see a magazine from the 1950s up close!...
04/22/2025

This little gem of Pilates history arrived in the mail today 🙌 So interesting to see a magazine from the 1950s up close! No shortage of cigarette ads.

Address

North Hollywood, CA

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 8pm
Saturday 9am - 3pm

Telephone

+18185100827

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