At Pilates School of Movement, we teach Pilates with attention, precision, and care.

Contrology, the original name given to the method by Joseph Pilates, is a system designed to develop strength, coordination, and awareness through intelligent movement. In our Classical Pilates studio in Brussels, this system is taught as a connected progression where each movement prepares the body for the next.

We begin by seeing you. We observe how you stand, how you breathe, how you organize your body in space. From there, we guide you step by step. Our cues are clear and intentional so you understand what you are doing and why. Our hands-on guidance helps you feel the difference between performing an exercise and truly embodying it.

Teaching Classical Pilates is, for us, an act of giving, of bringing happiness. We see you, we guide you, we celebrate every small step you take. Every time you show up, you allow yourself to grow and to discover your inner strength. That continuously inspires you and we thank you for sharing your journey with us.

We teach the original order on the Reformer and Mat because the structure of Contrology is what creates transformation. The sequence builds strength and mobility in a balanced way, while developing concentration and control. As you progress, the method reveals itself layer by layer.

We believe that learning requires patience and consistency.

That is why we offer a combination of private sessions and small group apparatus classes, allowing students to experience both focused guidance and the rhythm of a structured class environment. We’ve concluded that the closest way to honor Joseph Pilates’ original work is through a combination of private sessions, small group apparatus classes, and independent practice. In our small group Classical Pilates classes, you receive individual attention within a shared space. We adjust, refine, and encourage so that your practice remains personal and evolving. In private sessions, we go deeper into the details that support your development within the system.

In his New York studio, students received personal guidance and were encouraged to continue practicing to deepen their understanding. He also welcomed group classes during his time teaching at Jacob’s Pillow, where dancers experienced the method together. Besides that, he shared his method widely through his book Return to Life Through Contrology (1945), inviting people to take ownership of their movement. He even designed home furniture that could convert into Pilates apparatus, allowing people to practice Contrology in their everyday environment.

This openness to both individual instruction and shared practice is part of the history of Contrology. In the future, we intend to introduce open gym practice to further support independence within the method, in alignment with the original spirit of Joseph Pilates’ studio and the teachings.

This full open vision is why we honor the lineages of the Elders’ work, including Romana Kryzanowska, Kathy Grant, Jay Grimes, Carola Trier, Ron Fletcher, and Eve Gentry, who carried Joseph Pilates’ method forward while keeping its principles alive.

This is Pilates the way we love to teach it.

If you’d like to experiment this way of practicing Pilates, come visit us at Chaussée de Charleroi 173. We are located in Saint Gilles, just a few minutes away from Trinité in Châtelain, and Louise/Louiza in Ixelles.

Watch how we guide students through Classical Pilates in Brussels! ☺️