Background
Pilates was developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates, who originally called his method “contrology.” Fascinated by human movement from a young age, Joseph Pilates drew from his background in gymnastics, martial arts, and strength training to create a system focused on control, precision, breath, and whole-body strength. Before immigrating to the United States in 1925, he began refining this method while working with injured soldiers, adapting hospital beds into resistance-based equipment that later evolved into the Reformer and Cadillac.
After opening his studio in New York City, Pilates’ work gained popularity among dancers and performing artists, including Martha Graham and George Balanchine. Over time, Pilates expanded beyond the dance world and became widely recognized for its ability to improve posture, mobility, balance, and strength. Today, Pilates is practiced worldwide and remains a highly effective approach for athletes, individuals recovering from injury, and anyone seeking intelligent, low-impact strength training.
At Fit Monkeys, we offer private Pilates training in Carlsbad, CA that honors the core principles of the Pilates method while adapting it to modern movement science. Our Pilates sessions emphasize controlled strength, mobility, and functional movement, making them an excellent option for clients looking to build strength, improve body awareness, and move with greater confidence in everyday life.
Core Principles of Pilates
- Concentration: Mindful movement and focused attention to the body, helping improve body awareness and movement quality during Pilates training.
- Control: Every movement is performed with intention and control, rather than momentum, supporting safe and effective strength development.
- Centering: Engagement of the core as the body’s center of strength, promoting stability, balance, and efficient movement.
- Flow: Smooth, continuous movement that builds coordination, endurance, and graceful transitions between exercises.
- Precision: Emphasis on proper form and alignment to maximize the benefits of each exercise and reduce unnecessary strain.
- Breath: Coordinated breathing patterns that support control, efficiency, and full-body integration throughout Pilates movements.
What Makes Pilates Unique?
- Variable resistance through Pilates springs: Springs provide progressive resistance that changes throughout the range of motion, allowing exercises to be scaled for strength, control, and joint safety.
- Balanced concentric and eccentric loading: Pilates emphasizes controlled muscle shortening and lengthening, supporting strength development, coordination, and movement efficiency.
- Emphasis on deep stabilizing muscles: Training prioritizes core stability, postural muscles, and coordinated movement patterns rather than isolated muscle groups.
- Low-impact, joint-friendly training: Exercises are designed to build strength and mobility without excessive joint stress, making Pilates accessible across fitness levels.
- Integrated full-body movement: Pilates connects the upper body, lower body, and core in each exercise, promoting functional strength and movement awareness.
- Precision-based exercise selection: Small adjustments in setup, alignment, and resistance create highly targeted and individualized training.
- Strong mind–body connection: Pilates encourages focus, breath control, and intentional movement, improving body awareness and movement quality.
What Makes Fit Monkeys Pilates Style Unique?
Our Pilates style builds on the foundational principles of contemporary Pilates by integrating modern exercise science and intelligent strength training. While we stay rooted in Pilates concepts such as control, precision, breath, and mindful movement, we expand beyond traditional Pilates programming using our background in corrective exercise, senior fitness, and NASM’s Optimal Performance Training (OPT) model. This approach allows us to thoughtfully progress clients with added strength, resistance, and functional movement while preserving the core benefits that make Pilates so effective. The result is a well-rounded, science-based Pilates experience that supports long-term strength, mobility, and overall performance.
Our Equipment
- Balanced Body Reformers with towers
- Balanced Body Wunda Chair
- Spine Corrector
- Coming Soon: Pilates Wall Ladder