Inspiring Life from the Core

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Pilates Transparency Project

written by Carol Crincoli, Pure Pilates Director

My studio is Pure Pilates and my team and I are movement teachers certified in Pilates. And while we sometimes teach “Pilates-ish” exercises, I do not take for granted that I can freely use the word Pilates to market our services and promote that I own a Pilates studio.

But that wasn’t the case in the late 1990s.  A man by the name of Sean Gallagher claimed to own the name and the exercises created by Joseph Pilates. It was a 4-year legal battle before Mr. Gallagher lost in court with the judge ruling that Pilates was a generic term, just like the word yoga.

Hurray for the Pilates industry! Click here if you’re interested in reading the full details about the Pilates trademark lawsuit.

And here we are today, with Sean Gallagher, deep in another lawsuit with Mary Kelly of True Pilates Boston.  This time he is attacking teachers and studios that share vintage Pilates photographs and materials all related to Joseph Pilates on social media.  He is once again trying to be the grand Poo-bah of Pilates.

The NY Times recently published an article, The Fight for the Soul of Pilates and it covers most of the details.

I have decided to make this the topic of the month because I started to wonder how I would feel if I were Mary Kelly and my single studio was under attack, kicked off social media and now fighting an expensive lawsuit not just for herself but for the entire Pilates community.

I also have a big problem with bullies and Sean Gallagher is a bully. I’ve seen him in action, years ago leading a workshop, dividing the Pilates community with statements about “classically” trained instructors being legit and that “contemporary” instructors were not teaching the Pilates method like Joe intended. 

So, I am doing my little part in this big Pilates community to inform you about the Pilates Transparency Project and share their words with you.

There is still much to discover about Joe’s method and principles. As Pilates practitioners, we must preserve our rights to use images of the founder of Pilates. This lawsuit will benefit our community and help us honor Joe. For this reason, we must help Mary win.

In May, Pure Pilates will be donating a portion of the Pop-up Mat classes to the Pilates Transparency Project to contribute to the lawsuit fund. The classes are scheduled on Saturday, May 6th, 13th, and 20th.  Katie and I will be teaching these workouts! If you or someone you know may want to give Pilates a try, contact us to schedule an Initial Private consultation.  A portion of the service this month will also be donated to the fund.

So, thank you for listening. I hope this may spark your interest to dive deeper into the history of Pilates and all things Joe.

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Katie is a passionate mover who was brought to Pilates through dance. After a professional dance career, Katie discovered her love of teaching-connecting the mind and body, and working with students of all ages and levels. Her appreciation and understanding of everyone’s ever changing body and needs only became greater as her own body went through pre and post natal stages, an experience which has helped Katie navigate problem solving, and bring a freshness to each session making them feel personal and specific to each body’s needs. Her sessions are full of flow and aim to challenge clients with a sense of comfort, and often a little humor, all of which she has brought to Pure Pilates since 2016. Katie thinks the gift of movement and self care is one of the best things one can do for overall wellness, and is thrilled to seek and fulfill milestones and goals with each of her clients. When she’s not at the studio, Katie is taking care of her three little humans- another job that also makes her smile, laugh, and challenges her on the daily.
Eighteen years ago I discovered my love for Pilates. After having my two children, I felt the need to move my body again. At the time I was living in North Carolina, and worked through many different exercise and training programs. I discovered Pilates, and instantly knew it was right for me. Forteen years later, and a move to New Jersey, I decided to share my love of Pilates with other people looking for some way to move their bodies. Pilates has also been a way for me to keep me strong and flexible to continue many activities. My family loves to be active, and I often find when we are all together (mostly vacations) our days consist of activity and movement such as hiking, kayaking, or skiing(more on this later). As I have gotten older I find it even more imperative now that I keep my body strong. Recently I was in a skiing accident that left me with many knee injuries and ultimately having to go into surgery. I found being able to do light Pilates a few weeks after surgery kept me sane and ultimately helped with recovery time. Pilates has not only helped me be able to keep up with my children, but has also provided me with a body that is able to function at peak performance. My approach to Pilates can be described in one, simple word: movement. Movement can help you, both physically and mentally. Movement, and Pilates, is ultimately about self care. Having a built in time to focus on your body and movement can help relieve yourself of feeling tired, anxious, and stressed. Movement awakens you. Even after one session you can leave feeling calmer and energized.
Enjoyment of life through movement is a vital part of Kathy’s philosophy. When not in the studio she leads an active lifestyle trail running, cycling, skiing and hiking. She also loves connecting with people while traveling with family and friends. One of her favorite cycling trips was riding along the coast of northern California. Learning new things and sharing knowledge is also important to Kathy. She has a passion for food, likes to cook for her family and experiment with new recipes. She is currently trying to achieve the perfect pizza. She is also an avid reader of historical fiction and biographies. Her latest endeavor is learning to play golf.
Carol M. Crincoli, owner Pure Pilates studio, has been in the fitness industry since 1990, with experience in corporate and commercial fitness, recreational programming and teaching as an adjunct professor. She began practicing Pilates in 2003 and received Pilates training through the PhysicalMind Institute in New York, NY. She holds certifications from the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE) as a group exercise instructor, personal trainer and lifestyle and weight management consultant. She was also accepted into the IDEA-PFT Recognition System as an Elite Level Personal Fitness Trainer. She is the only trainer in the NY-metro area for Trent McEntire’s Arcus equipment. Carol graduated from the Boston Conservatory of Music with a BFA in musical theater and a minor in dance. Opening Pure Pilates is the culmination of a lifetime dream, and her mission to "inspire life from the core" is a holistic approach to health and wellness—from exercise and nutrition, to stress management and self-care. Carol is also the inventor of 8th Avenue Rail, an organizing solution for Tower springs.