To young Joseph it was the mind that controlled the body and not the other way around. Later on, he wrote a book titled Contrology. In case you didn’t know, Joseph P. died calling his method Contrology.
When the war was over, he fled to America, like so many Europeans at that time. And like many immigrants, he probably arrived in the United States with no papers. Actually, his last name, Pilates, sounds more Greek than German. Be it as it may, the fact is that Joseph Hubertus P. arrived in New York City around 1920 and soon opened a studio to continue the rehabilitation work he had started in Europe during the war.
Joseph and his nurse wife, Clara, worked very hard at improving their technique until the final day of his life.
Today, some call the method after the man. But there are many ways to call this method: body balance, mind and body or body control, among others. At any rate, Pilates’ machine and the exercises to do on it, survive to this day. Not only do they survive, but they are thriving in New York City, as well as in Europe, in Asia, and in Latin America.
Is it a miracle? No, it is not a miracle. Miracles don’t exist. This is for real, and it works. It really works. It’s as simple as that.
Who were P.’ first clients? The story goes that his first clients were dancers form the American Ballet Company. People like Martha Graham, George Balanchine, Ruth St. Denis, and others, who went to train with this “crazy German” who had even more “crazy apparatus” to help strained ankles and hurt knees. All sorts of dancers, except Tango dancers. What a pity.
The Pampa’s Way
Perhaps you are Monsieur Nureyev or perhaps you have been on stage for 6 hours a day for the last six years. If this is the case, I will not utter one more word. But, chances are that you are neither Nureyev nor have you been on stage for the last six years. Most probably you are a nice, normal person who would like to lose some weight, reduce your waistline and sculpt your figure. You are probably looking for something and someone to tell you how to do it as easily as possibly, and without much effort, right? Right. Since this is your case, then Tangolates is for you. Definitely.
Even if you know nothing about fitness and are not an expert dancer, you’ll discover one thing: Tangolates is a body conditioning that combines Tango dance and Pilates motions, so that it will never injure your joints or ligaments. Tangolates is something you can do anytime, with anyone, regardless of how fit you are, or feel. Regardless of anything, you can do Tangolates because its easy, because its fun, and because it works!
Don’t Turn Blue
Whether you are an intermediate, an advanced or a beginner, you can always do Tangolates and benefit from it. You don’t have to jump up and down until your face turns blue, nor will you have to practice a million hours a day to start losing weight. With Tangolates you start seeing the difference right away.
The routines are safe. The routines are tested. The routines are easy. The moves are effective. The moves engage all the principal muscle groups. The moves flow naturally with the music. The moves are so much fun!
The best of Tangolates? Three things: it works; it is a lot of fun; and everybody can do it.
Show Me the Ways
You can do Tangolates in two ways: you can either do it on the floor (most movements are standing up); or else you can do it on the equipment. Whichever you choose, you know that you will be working your deep muscles efficiently. In each class you will perform a certain sequence that has been especially designed for you to do. As long as you work with a companion, it doesn’t really matter whether you choose the floor or the apparatus version. They are both excellent.
Facts, Facts, Facts
Just for you to have an idea, a group mat class goes for $20 to $50 a class; and a group Reformer class of Tangolates goes from $50 to $80 a class. Is it enough to register for a once a week class? Yes, it is. Twice a week? That is even better. Three times a week? Well… it depends on how trained your body is. Most people are fine with just a once or twice a week program.
A typical class of Tangolates mat has 10 to 16 people. Usually, people team up spontaneously, although it is also common to see two people who have chosen to work together during one class, decide to remain together for the next few classes.
It is nice to see how clients attend their classes, even when tired, in order not to let his or her companion down. The camaraderie that Tangolates creates is stimulating and very touching to see. “I am so clumsy I never thought I could Tango”, said a fifty-six year old woman, “until a classmate came to me and said: ‘please help me.’ Now we are the best team in our class!”
Team Up!
Tangolates is the first and only exercise in the history of fitness gym conceived for two people. Watching a class of Tangolates makes me wonder why classes of aerobics, step, tae-bo, etc., are done on an individual basis. Be it as it may, the fact is that once you register in a Tangolates class you will immediately appreciate having a partner to work with, you will see that teaming up with a classmate makes it easier for you and for your mate to make the effort; you will notice that you will work harder and be happier; that the results are better and come faster, and that you are having so much fun you don’t want the class to end.
Let’s Move Together
“You know what I like the best about Tangolates, Tamara?”, said Gaby after finishing her tangolates class, “You can’t cheat!”. Gaby is right, when you work alone, you can get bored or distracted or just tired, so you give up for a couple of minutes and nobody will notice; but when you are working with another person you can’t do that because your class mate is there, working with you, and so you have to make the extra effort not to let your classmate down.
But by far the best thing about Tangolates is that when you move, you move together. That makes it easier and that definitely makes it more fun. To move together requires coordination and synchronized movements. In order to learn it well, the best thing is to establish a strong and powerful eye contact. For example, when you see your companion is about to flex their leg, you will have to flex yours at the same time, not one second earlier and not one second later. You will see that to establish eye contact and to work at unison is one of the best things about your Tangolates class, and what makes it irresistible to anyone.
