The Method That Transforms

Brenda Beckmann,
Founder of Vigor Pilates

My journey began like many others: I was drawn to Pilates to reconnect with my body. But unlike many, I stayed — not just because it worked, but because I realized how much depth and intelligence lived in the method. Joseph Pilates called it Contrology for a reason, as it is the merging of body, breath, focus, and discipline.

In a world flooded with wellness trends, quick fixes, and choreographed workouts built more for aesthetics than function, it can feel radical to return to the roots. But that’s exactly what we do at Vigor Pilates. We go back, not backward, but inward, to a method that has stood the test of time: Classical Pilates. It works because it’s rooted in principles that honor how the human body is designed to move, and it demands something we don’t often give ourselves in modern life: full attention.

Classical Pilates is system-based, progressive, and rooted in functionality. The original method Joseph Pilates developed was meant to transform. He called it Contrology. Science is catching up to what Pilates knew intuitively through observation and experience. Studies have shown that Pilates improves core strength, postural control, flexibility, balance, and mental sharpness. These are outcomes that directly support functional movement in everyday life. 

A 2014 systematic review published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that Pilates was effective in improving muscle endurance, flexibility, and dynamic balance, particularly in healthy adults. Another study in PLOS One (2013) showed that participants practicing Pilates saw improvements in executive function, attention, and memory. And perhaps more powerfully, it reconnects us to our own agency. When you train your awareness, you begin to make more aligned choices, in and out of the studio.¹ ²

These results aren’t coming from trendy fusion classes- they come from the consistent, principle-driven work that defines Classical Pilates. The work does not chase muscle fatigue or burn out. It focuses on organizing your body in space, coordinating breath with movement, and creating strength from your deepest layers outward. The powerhouse, aka your core, is not just your abs. It’s your diaphragm, your pelvic floor, your transverse abdominis, and your spinal stabilizers. When you train these systems together, everything changes. This type of deep integration also supports neuromuscular reeducation, helping you move more efficiently over time. 

My goal with Vigor, is to never dilute the method with fluff or “Pilates-inspired” mashups that look good on Instagram but do little to your long-term function. Your nervous system, your joints, your breath, your ability to move well as you age- these things deserve more than choreography and cute outfits. They deserve a method that respects the body’s design and the mind’s capacity to focus, evolve, and heal. 

Xo,

Brenda