Complete Coordination of Mind, Body, and Spirit
By Elaine Ewing
What is “Complete coordination of mind, body, and spirit”? The Pilates Method is composed of multiple parts, all of which, when brought together, make up a system that Joseph Pilates said was, “Complete coordination of mind, body, and spirit”.
How does the Pilates system address each person’s unique body?
This is done by the specifics of the apparatus, the exercises, particular ways of doing the exercises, and the order in which they're done. As for the mind, oftentimes it comes down to the quality of knowledge passed down by the teacher. How the method is taught and how to control the apparatus in parallel to the movements requires mental training that takes time to learn. These aspects are essential to maintaining the integrity of the method. These are the parts that we can pass on to each other, to preserve the work.
Is it possible to teach and learn how the spirit is part of the Pilates system?
If the spirit behind the work is whatever motivates you, what inspires you, and the joy of simply becoming present during the workouts, one may wonder if this is teachable. I believe it is, but it must first be present in the teacher themselves in order for it to be passed on to the next generations of students. In a sense, the spirit is a positive approach coupled with the faith in the work and the apparatus as Joe designed them both.
This serves as an undercurrent to the work of the body and mind.
Therefore, the complete coordination of mind, body, and spirit isn’t only evident in a student’s workout. In fact, it originates from the approach and intentions of the teacher.
Complete Coordination and The Future of Pilates
The closer each teacher can get to their most complete coordination of mind, body, and spirit, the greater potential influence they have on their students and colleagues to embody the same. And with that, the authentic Pilates Method has a greater chance at survival in an ever-changing world.
If we start to lose focus, and become distracted by what everyone else is doing… or not doing… if we look outward instead of inward, we pull attention away from the fundamental elements of Joe’s intentions and shine a new focus on what we claim we don’t want Pilates to become.
Instead, find beauty in each and every moment of all the exercises. Become one with your apparatus. Practice until you’re familiar with each nuanced movement, and then do it again. Become excited about each pose and what it means to achieve it, and you’ll find that this enthusiasm spreads to those around you. Notice that as the architecture around you shifts and the patina of your apparatus continuously reveals itself over time, your relationship to the method can deepen.
By turning attention towards what we can’t control around us, we weaken our own potential and diminish Joe’s vision for his method when he declared, “Contrology will live forever”.
Photo is ©2021 Joseph DeRuvo and Elaine Ewing
The De•Composition Project
Joseph DeRuvo and I began our Pilates art photography project, De•Composition, upon reflection of all of these aspects- not only of authentic Pilates, but also the apparatus, and the changes we see and feel in environments around us, both in regard to the Pilates industry and the world in general. Our goal was to capture all the elements that make up the Pilates system in single moments, to pass on the work through visual representation in a new way.
Using Vintage Pilates Apparatus to Connect Past and Present
Naturally, we chose the apparatus for this project carefully. Most of what we used for the project was archival equipment from Joseph Pilates’ studio. For the reformer, we were excited to work with a vintage Gratz reformer from the early 1990’s. As one expects from Gratz, the meticulous craftsmanship and special dimensions based on Joe Pilates’ original designs for his aluminum reformers are the underlying support behind the workout.
The reflective patina of this vintage piece is also a beautiful compliment to the dilapidated surroundings and illuminates each room.
Photo is ©2021 Joseph DeRuvo and Elaine Ewing
How the De•Composition Project Took Shape
Throughout the project, we visited the location over a period of several months. In the beginning, we just wanted to spend a couple hours having fun with photography, classical pilates, vintage and archival pilates equipment, and being inside an incredible space. However, as the project continued to take shape, the message it was sending us became more and more clear:
"As the world around us constantly shifts, by definition, the authentic Pilates method has the potential to remain the same. We can keep this multifaceted method alive and ensure that the most vital elements of Pilates remain for generations to come if we each realize that this vision starts with us as individuals and how well we embody the work in all its parts as BOTH teachers and students. The work and the coordination Joe spoke of is only as strong as we are. "
What “Strength” Really Means in Pilates
By “strong” I don’t mean literal strength, although that is of course a part of it. It doesn’t necessarily mean that all teachers must be able to do every exercise in its full expression or to perfection every time. Just like the ever-changing world around us, we all change during the course of our lives and our Pilates practice reflect that.
Instead, what I mean by this universal strength is that the coordination that Joe was so certain about for the mind, body, and spirit- the very foundation of the work- has potential to live within each of us if we look for it within ourselves.
Photo is ©2021 Joseph DeRuvo and Elaine Ewing
The Meaning Behind the Name: De•Composition
These intentions were the inspiration for the title for the series, which we put great thought into. We finally settled on De•Composition, which is a compound of each of the elements that we strived to share with each image and that are described above.
Decomposition
decompose verb
de·com·pose | ˌdē-kəm-ˈpōz
Definition: to separate into constituent parts or elements or into simpler compounds
De
de- prefix
Definition: reduce; something derived from (a specified thing)
Composition
composition noun
com·po·si·tion | ˌkäm-pə-ˈzi-shən
Definition: the act or process of composing; specifically : arrangement into specific proportion or relation and especially into artistic form; the manner in which something is composed
Position
position noun
po·si·tion | pə-ˈzi-shən
Definition: an act of placing or arranging; an arranging in order; the point or area occupied by a physical object; a certain arrangement of bodily parts
Elaine and Joseph hope, with their artistic backgrounds and pilates knowledge, that this project captures a balance of decomposition, composition, and position in each instant. By acknowledging the representation of each exercise pose, with the support of the vintage Gratz reformer, surrounded by an ever-changing world, may we recognize the authenticity of the work that has the power to remain the same, as long as teachers and students each do their best to uphold it.
De•Composition
Photos by: Joseph DeRuvo
Concept and demonstration: Elaine Ewing
Reformer: Vintage Gratz, circa estimated early 1990s
About Elaine Ewing
Elaine Ewing is the owner of Rhinebeck Pilates, and a third-generation, certified Authentic Pilates teacher and Certified Teacher of Teachers through the New York Pilates Studio®. Elaine is also the owner of many pieces of original equipment from Joseph Pilates’ 8th Avenue Studio and Carola Trier’s original studio, which can be found within Rhinebeck Pilates.
Copyright 2025 Elaine Ewing
All photos are ©2021 Joseph DeRuvo and Elaine Ewing
lee artur
June 01, 2025
Exceptional article. Very informative and articulated with a great understanding of the importance of sharing the Pilates Method as it was taught by Joe. The book by Elaine and Joseph DeRuvo is a beautifully illustrated rendering of the exercises and the setting.