Why I had to re-learn Pilates (and how it changed everything)

Not all training is the same

The “What is Pilates?” debates are pretty hot right now and I’m jumping right into that fire!

Contemporary, Classical, Mat, or fitness-based Reformer classes… are they all Pilates?

Now, don’t get me wrong, I agree that all movement is good movement. If people are motivated, having fun, connecting with their community, supporting small businesses, and moving their bodies, that’s GREAT. Moving is always better than not moving at all.

But… is it actually Pilates?

This isn’t an attack, it’s a reflection. Let me tell you my story of my Pilates awakening, and why I feel compelled to share it.

My Start: Contemporary Pilates

Alongside working as a Physio, I originally trained to teach Contemporary Pilates. It was a bit of an afterthought to be honest. The clinic where I worked needed a new teacher, so off I went to do my training.

Contemporary Pilates is the most popular and flexible style, known for its creativity and interpretation. But leaving things open to interpretation is where things can get a bit sticky.

• Do you know why you’re giving that exercise?

• Do you know its purpose?

• Its intention?

If you're a teacher who finds yourself scrolling Instagram for “flows” because you’re bored (or worried your clients are), downloading class plan apps, or picking an exercise simply because it looks cool… chances are, it’s probably not true Pilates.

I completed my Contemporary training with a reputable company, doing all levels of Matwork (which I now realise were heavily modified, some almost unrecognisable from the original work!).

Later, I went on to complete the full equipment course on the Cadillac (Trap Table), Chair, Spine Corrector, and Reformer. We learned exercises grouped by body area: one block for upper limbs, another for the spine, and so on.

But when I finished, I felt a little lost.

How was I supposed to connect these exercises?

How did they flow together?

And what if a client was injured? Did that mean a whole section of exercises was out?

So I did what most new teachers do: I planned.

I spent hours writing class programs and notes for clients. Only for a client to walk in with an injury or restriction, and my perfect plan went out the window (cue the panicked thoughts of what to teach next!).

The Turning Point

Midway through my equipment training, I stumbled across a Classical Pilates teacher on Instagram. Her movement fascinated me. I started trying some of her short videos and BOOM - my brain exploded.

There was an entire world of Pilates out there I knew nothing about.

As an experienced physio and Pilates teacher with around ten years teaching experience under my belt, I suddenly felt like I was right back at the bottom of the ladder. I needed answers. I wanted to climb out of the confusion and into this deeper, original system that had been there all along.

I began practising Classical Pilates as much as I could, hungry to learn more.

I even started sneaking a few of these moves into my classes, though truthfully, I still didn’t fully understand the system. I was teaching exercises, not pieces of a larger puzzle.

While I was self-learning the Classical movements, I noticed something interesting in my Contemporary training that was still ongoing: entire sections of the repertoire were skipped.

For example, in the Long Stretch Series, we only learned Long Stretch, Down Stretch, and Elephant in no particular order, as if they weren’t connected.

When I asked about the other movements in the series, I was told, “We don’t cover that.” Like there were secret levels to uncover that I didn't have access to.

It all started to feel disjointed. No flow or logic.

The Leap: Going Back

A few years later, I reached a crossroads. Could I really justify another training? Should I just keep patching the gaps in my knowledge and hope I'll eventually figure it out?

I knew what I had to do so I took the leap and enrolled in a Master Mentorship Program with 2nd Generation teacher Lesley Logan. She had trained directly under Jay Grimes, a direct student of Joe Pilates himself.

The mentorship was intense: nine months of study, self-practice, teaching hours, and assessments, alongside a small group of passionate teachers in the same boat as me. Between us, we had years of experience, but this work shook us to our core.

There were moments of tears, frustration, self-doubt, laughter, and absolute joy. Some of us felt like we were starting all over again. I had to put my ego (and everything I thought I knew) aside.

And honestly? It was the best experience of my Pilates life. I knew there was no turning back.

Learning Pilates Backwards

I often say I learned Pilates back to front.

Finally I was learning the original method, and everything started to click.

Joe Pilates was a true genius. His work, when taught as he intended, is still perfect all these decades later. It doesn’t need modernising or “improving.” The system already accounts for everything: progressions, regressions, and the unique needs of the person in front of you, especially when you understand what to look for.

When you understand the method (although I am now a life-long learner), you never have to panic about what to do with a client. There’s no need to invent new moves or overthink class plans. The structure and flow are already there.

And no, it never gets boring, because it’s challenging! There’s so much variety, and always something to refine or discover.

Finding the Real Pilates

Pilates truly is for everyone because Joe designed it that way.

But not all Pilates training is the same. Many versions have drifted far from the original system, losing the precision, flow, and depth that make the method so transformative.

All the time, money, sweat, ego-bruising, and tears I spent retraining were worth every second because now I feel I can truly help people experience the real Pilates method: one that challenges, strengthens, and changes your body from the inside out.

Feel the Difference for Yourself

If you want to come and experience it for yourself, book a private session with me at my fully equipped boutique studio in Adelaide, Australia.

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