Did Joe Pilates Ever Write About Sleep?

Yes—Joseph Pilates did reference sleep in his writing, particularly in his book Return to Life Through Contrology. While he didn’t focus on sleep in the modern scientific sense, he strongly emphasized the importance of rest, natural rhythm, and lifestyle habits to support health and vitality.

A few relevant ideas he expressed:

• He advocated for sleeping on a firm mattress and without a pillow to maintain spinal alignment and avoid neck strain.

• He believed in the value of daily full-body movement to promote sound sleep, writing that Contrology (Pilates) “develops the body uniformly, corrects posture, restores vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit”—all of which contribute to better sleep.

• He encouraged people to live in harmony with nature’s rhythms, including exposure to fresh air and natural light, which we now understand supports circadian health.

While not sleep science as we know it today, his holistic view absolutely supports the modern idea that movement quality and sleep quality are deeply linked.