Return to Life:

Before I ever touched a barbell, my first taste of fitness came in a Pilates studio. Recovering from a difficult break-up and an unexpected move across the Atlantic, Pilates became my soul food. The breath-based, interoceptive practice offered a structure that gently nudged me back to life.

Years later, when it came to teacher training, I found myself deciding between Classical and Contemporary methods. I chose Classical for its more dynamic approach: its emphasis on full range and stretch-strength principles aligned closely with what I’d come to understand about how the body adapts through lifting. More than anything, I was drawn to the sequence itself, curious why Joe was so strict—almost obsessive—about the order. Luckily, I found Circle, a classical studio in the city, run by a 2nd-generation teacher who had studied directly with Pilates elder, Jay Grimes. Grimes was one of the few who had taught alongside Joe in his original New York studio.

It felt like I had found a thread that led straight back to the source. Now, I hope to honour and share this lineage with you. Come discover for yourself the Classical difference, and fall in love with the whole-body intelligence, intensity, and allure of Contrology.

Background:

Classical Pilates: Mat, Barrels, & Small Apparatus (3rd generation, with direct lineage from Joseph Pilates) - Shareen Woodford, Circle Pilates
Two-Way Stretch (Workshop) - Sandy Shimoda, Vintage Pilates