The very first line in Return to Life Through Contrology, written by Joseph Pilates in 1945, is:
“Physical fitness is the first requisite to happiness.”
This isn’t a new quote to me – but recently, I realized something I had forgotten… it’s the first line in his book. The opening statement. The foundation.
This is the same book that introduces the original mat order – the 34 exercises that many of you now recognize through March MATness, a tradition that made its way into the Pilates world around 2008 and continues to grow each year.
But let’s come back to that first sentence.
I looked up the word requisite. It means necessary, indispensable, required for a particular purpose.
In this case, that purpose is happiness.
That’s a strong statement – and one worth sitting with.
Where Effort Comes In
This idea shows up in the studio every single day, and it comes down to one thing:
Effort.
The effort you bring with you each and every time you show up.
Whether you’re working with me or doing another workout somewhere else – effort matters.
The definition of effort is the conscious physical or mental exertion – hard work or a determined attempt to accomplish a specific goal.
And in Pilates, effort doesn’t always look the way you might expect.
The Physical Effort
Sometimes it’s obvious.
It might mean adjusting your spring tension.
Adding another repetition.
Moving through a slightly larger range of motion.
These are the visible ways we challenge the body.
But that’s only part of the story.
The Subtle Effort
Often, the most important work is harder to see.
It’s the way a cue lands on you… and you choose to do something with it.
Maybe you intentionally curl up just a little more in your Hundred or Coordination.
You reach through your heels a bit longer in your Short Box.
You lengthen your torso to find just a hair more lift.
This is where Pilates becomes something more than exercise.
That’s effort.
Not forced.
Not rushed.
But intentional.
The Mental Effort
And then there’s the mental side – which might be the most important of all.
It’s your willingness to stay present.
To listen.
To try again – even when it doesn’t feel perfect.
Because Pilates is simple… but it is not easy.
It asks you to pay attention.
To refine.
To repeat.
And to keep showing up with purpose.
Owning Your Practice
The effort you bring means a tremendous amount to me as an instructor.
I can see it. I can feel it in the room.
And more importantly – you can feel it in your body.
When you start to find that deeper connection and understanding, you’re no longer just going through the motions…
You’re owning your practice.
And that’s where the real work – and the real change – begins.
And the Happiness?
It’s not something you chase – it’s something that starts to show up.
When you move your body…
When you strengthen and stretch your muscles…
When you feel capable and supported in your body…
You’re better equipped to do the things you love.
And that, in its own quiet way, is happiness.
