S12 Ep02 In the Lane of Contrology with Sharon Michau

In this third episode of In the Lane of Contrology, Bruce Hildebrand and Classical Pilates teacher Sharon Michau tackle one of the most challenging conversations facing the modern Pilates industry: when does healthy evolution become erosion? Sharon carefully distinguishes between thoughtful adaptation and the gradual thinning-out of the original method, arguing that while Pilates should continue evolving alongside modern bodies and modern understanding, it risks losing its identity when the system, principles and internal logic of the work are removed while the name “Pilates” remains.Bruce and Sharon explore the rapid growth of the Australian Pilates landscape, including the rise of Reformer fitness models, hybrid classes, short-form training pathways and social-media-driven programming. Sharon reflects on how erosion often begins quietly — not with the obvious disappearance of equipment or exercise names, but with the loss of observation, progression, breath, internal attention, relationship between exercises and the deeper educational intention of the method. The conversation also examines the commercial power of the word Pilates, the importance of honest labelling, and the difference between work that is Pilates-inspired and work that remains connected to the original system.Rather than turning the discussion into a battle between classical and contemporary approaches, this episode calls for discernment, humility and clearer industry language. Sharon encourages teachers and studio owners to ask difficult questions about what they are preserving, what they are changing, and whether the method would still be recognisable if the equipment, branding and music were stripped away. The central message is not that evolution is dangerous, but that evolution without relationship to the source risks slowly eroding the very thing that made Pilates valuable in the first place.PAA Course Competency Criteria standardsVisit the PAA website Find us on  Facebook Join the PAA Member Forum (Members  only)Find us on InstagramEmail us at [email protected]