▲ CEO Sujin Park

It has been awhile that pilates has become a trend in the Korean health and beauty industry. Numerous studios sprang up like mushrooms and disappeared like wind leaving some side effects. Issues have been brought up such as unqualified instructors practicing pilates. 

What is pilates? It is a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates; in his book <Return to Life through Contrology>, he explains Pilates as the art of controlled movements and it should look and feel like a workout but not a therapy, if manifested properly. Therefore, pilates should be learned by professional trainers who obtained both knowledge and experience alongside, of course, the qualification. 

Uniqueness comes from down-to-earthness 
Pila Lab (aka Pilates Laboratory) is located in Gongdeok-dong Mapo District Seoul. What makes Pila Lab unique is at its practice-based curriculum built by the CEO Sujin Park who filtered out of those unnecessary miscellaneous theories and movements which are not helpful much.  

Park majored in dance. She suffered from frequent injuries and received rehabilitation during which she came know about pilates. Enlightened by it, she launched a study of the art and took a course at Korea National University of Arts to deepen her knowledge; and she pushed it one step further by obtaining a master’s degree in physical education at Ewha Women’s University. She opened Le Body Pilates specialized in rehabilitative pilates after graduation and it laid the foundation for the current Pila Lab. 

Sound mind in a sound body
The 3 month long level 1 course is an intensive 100 hour course and many of the students are those who already obtained certificates from other related associations. The level 2 course is designed for people with spine diseases such as discs and stenosis; the eligible students must have more than a year experience as a pilates instructor; the level 2 course is linked with the center in Australia and thus the class can also be taught in English. The number of students of each period is limited to 6 to maximize its effect and the class can be organized as a private or a group.

“Sound mind in a sound body I think explains the core of pilates. However, it’s easier said than done because obtaining a certificate itself will lead us nowhere but a continuous study, trial and development. Bearing this essence in mind, I’m determined to bring an upgrade form of pilates by combining the elements of dance in which I still have great passion. This new form will be a new driving force of Pila Lab and I’m ready to pour all my energy into it.”