Lectures on Tap - "A History of Pilates: Prison, Freedom, Control"

Join us for a powerful evening as Dr. Bahiyyah Muhammad uncovers the carceral origins of Pilates, tracing its path from internment camps to today’s high-end studios. Beginning with Joseph Pilates’ “Contrology,” she will explore core principles like breath, precision, control, and whole-body integration—and connect them to the lived realities of incarcerated people today.

Through archival photos, historical documents, and contemporary images, this talk will vividly illuminate how a “prison workout” became a symbol of luxury wellness. Together, we will wrestle with urgent questions: Can Pilates behind bars be rehabilitative without reinforcing punishment? What does it mean to practice ethically while honoring this complex history in our own communities?

Participants will also experience brief, accessible chair-based breathing and posture explorations, demonstrating how Pilates can live anywhere—from prison cells to bar stools—as a tool for reflection, regulation, and dialogue.