Normal muscles should function naturally in much the same manner as do the muscles of animals.
Joseph PilatesPhysical fitness is the first requisite of happiness. In order to achieve happiness, it is imperative to gain mastery of your body. If at the age of 30 you are stiff and out of shape, you are old. If at 60 you are supple and strong then you are young.
Joseph PilatesConcentrate on the correct movements each time you exercise, lest you do them improperly and thus lose all the vital benefits of their value.
Joseph PilatesContrology develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong postures, restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit.
Joseph PilatesIdeally, our muscles should obey our will. Reasonably, our will should not be dominated by the reflex actions of our muscles.
Joseph PilatesContrology is not a system of haphazard exercises designed to produce only bulging muscles. ... Nor does Contrology err either by over-developed a few muscles at the expense of all others with resulting loss of grace and suppleness, or a sacrifice of the heart or lungs. Rather, it was conceived to limber and stretch muscles and ligaments so that your body will be as supple as that of a cat and not muscular like that of the body of a brewery-truck horse, or the muscle-bound body of the professional weight lifter you so much admire at the circus.
Joseph Pilates