The Six Concepts of Contrology: Foundations of the Pilates Method
When Joseph Pilates first introduced Contrology—the original name for what we now call Pilates—he described it as “the complete coordination of body, mind, and spirit.” His method was never meant to be a series of mechanical exercises; it was a mindful practice built on key concepts that guide the mover toward integrated, efficient, and intelligent movement.
Modern Pilates organizations often articulate these foundational ideas as six core concepts (or principles). Though the exact list varies slightly among schools, the following six concepts consistently appear across the most respected Pilates education systems, capturing the essence of Joseph Pilates’ original intentions.
1. Concentration
Concentration is the mental anchor of all Pilates work. Joseph Pilates emphasized that “it is the mind itself which shapes the body.”
During each movement, the practitioner maintains deep awareness of alignment, muscle engagement, breath, and rhythm. Concentration ensures the work is not rote but intentional—every repetition becomes an opportunity to refine patterning and retrain the nervous system.
In contemporary curricula (e.g., Polestar and Balanced Body), concentration is framed as mindful presence—a commitment to staying fully engaged with the task at hand to develop movement mastery.
2. Control
Control is the namesake of Contrology. Pilates insisted that exercises be performed with complete muscular control, rather than momentum or collapse.
Effective control requires:
Appropriate muscle recruitment
Smooth and organized transitions
Balanced engagement rather than gripping or over-effort
Precision in range, direction, and pacing
Control develops neuromuscular efficiency, helping practitioners move with safety and grace both in and out of the studio.
3. Center (or “The Powerhouse”)
Often described as the powerhouse, the center refers not only to the abdominal region but to the entire musculature of the trunk—including the deep abdominals, spinal stabilizers, pelvic floor, diaphragm, and gluteal complex.
Classical schools (e.g., The Pilates Center Boulder and Romana’s Pilates) treat centering as the organizing force of all movement: initiation begins in the center, energy radiates outward, and stability is maintained without excessive rigidity.
Centering fosters a strong, supple core that supports alignment and functional strength.
4. Flow (or Fluidity)
Flow describes the dynamic, continuous, and elegant quality of Pilates movement. Rather than isolated, disconnected actions, the exercises form a rhythmic sequence, often described by educators as “movement choreography.”
Joseph Pilates designed his mat repertoire to move seamlessly from one exercise to the next. Modern teachers interpret flow as:
Economy of effort
Balanced transitions
Harmonized breath and movement
A sense of grace and ease
Flow helps practitioners cultivate movement efficiency that carries over into daily life.
5. Precision
Precision is the refinement of detail that elevates Pilates from exercise to art. Instead of performing many sloppy repetitions, Pilates encourages fewer movements executed with exactness.
Precision includes:
Clear alignment of bones and joints
Accurate placement of limbs
Intentional pathways of motion
Awareness of symmetry and balance
In contemporary teacher-training programs, precision is often linked to proprioceptive accuracy—training the brain to understand where the body is in space and how to correct imbalances.
6. Breath
Breath is central to the entire system of Contrology. Joseph Pilates wrote extensively about the importance of complete inhalation and complete exhalation to “cleanse” the body and invigorate the mind.
In modern education:
Balanced Body emphasizes lateral thoracic breathing for rib and spine mobility.
Polestar highlights breath as a tool for nervous system regulation and movement efficiency.
Classical lineages use breath to support dynamic trunk stability and rhythm.
Breath integrates all other principles, providing fuel, flow, and connection throughout the practice.
Bringing the Concepts Together
While each of the six concepts has its own distinct focus, they are designed to work as an integrated system. You cannot fully embody precision without control; you cannot find flow without breath; you cannot have centered movement without concentration.
Together, these six ideas form the essence of Contrology—the sophisticated, mindful movement practice Joseph Pilates envisioned over a century ago and that continues to evolve through today’s leading education bodies.