Contrology™ vs. Contemporary Pilates: Know the Difference in NYC
Senior Master Teacher Cynthia Shipley
Lifespan Pilates NYC | The Only Romana’s Pilates International™ Training Center in NYC
If you’ve been searching for Pilates in New York City, you’ve likely come across all kinds of offerings: contemporary fusion, mat classes, classical Pilates, reformer workouts, and more. The Pilates world can be confusing for anyone trying to understand what’s authentic and what’s been adapted.
So what’s the difference between Contrology™—Joseph Pilates’ original method—and the wide variety of contemporary Pilates styles being offered today? And why does it matter to your health, progress, and investment in training?
Let’s break it down:
What Is Contrology™?
Contrology™ is the name Joseph Pilates gave to his original system of physical and mental conditioning. It was never about individual exercises—it was about a full-body method designed to improve posture, strength, flexibility, and mind-body connection through a structured progression of movement.
Romana Kryzanowska, Joe’s protégé and chosen successor, preserved and refined this method as she passed it on to future generations. What we teach at Lifespan Pilates NYC is not an interpretation of Pilates—it’s the direct continuation of Contrology™ through the lens of Romana’s work.
What Is Contemporary Pilates?
Contemporary Pilates is an umbrella term used to describe modern adaptations of the original method. These classes often blend techniques from yoga, barre, physical therapy, and fitness trends. They may use different types of equipment, creative choreography, props, music, and isolated movements.
While some contemporary teachers draw inspiration from Pilates, they often deconstruct the method—focusing on shapes rather than systems, or performance over progression. These classes can be enjoyable and creative, but they’re fundamentally different from Contrology™.
The Key Differences Between Contrology™ and Contemporary Pilates:
- Contrology™ is a system. Contemporary Pilates is often a style.
- Contrology™ uses spring-based resistance to activate deep stabilizers and support natural movement.
- In Contrology™, transitions, rhythm, and flow matter. In many contemporary classes, exercises are isolated or performed at random.
- Contrology™ follows a logic that builds over time. Contemporary Pilates often prioritizes novelty and variety.
- Our training at Lifespan Pilates NYC is based on Contrology™—taught the way Romana Kryzanowska carried it forward.
Why It Matters in NYC
In a city full of boutique fitness studios and quick-fix workouts, knowing the difference between Contrology™ and contemporary Pilates gives you the power to choose what’s right for your body and goals.
If you’re looking for Pilates in NYC that offers real progression, equipment designed to original specifications (Gratz Pilates™), and teachers trained directly in the Romana’s Pilates™ lineage—you’ll find it at Lifespan Pilates.
We don’t follow trends. We preserve a system that works.
How to Spot Authentic Romana’s Pilates International™ (RPI) Studios:
- Ask about the instructor’s training and lineage and, (most important) ask if they are still RPI certified and active.
- Look for spring-based apparatus like Reformer, Cadillac, and Wunda Chair from manufacturers like Gratz Pilates™
Final Thoughts
Choosing Contrology™ means choosing purpose. Each movement is rooted in principles, designed to support the whole body and honor its natural function. Contemporary Pilates has its place—but it’s not the same method, nor does it deliver the same results.
If you want to learn or train in the system created by Joseph Pilates and passed down through Romana, you don’t have to look far.