Apprentice of Contrology®
Apprentice of Contrology® is a Pilates instructor education program that can be conducted nationwide across various studios, led by POP PILATES™.
Apprentice of Contrology® is an in-depth instructor training program that uniquely restores not only the class structure but also the studio system originally used in Joseph H. Pilates’ studio, and cultivates Pilates specialists through the original apprenticeship-based method.
Apprentice of Contrology® provides education in the philosophy of Pilates, as well as training on all apparatus and accessories used in classical Pilates.
Apprentice of Contrology® is an original-method education program where apprentices deepen their understanding by directly experiencing dramatic physical transformation through Pilates within a deeply structured system. Graduates of this program are recognized for their authenticity as 3rd generation Pilates guides and are officially registered and certified as successors.
Apprentice of Contrology® is guided by professional educators who believe that the simplest-looking approach is the only path to truly understanding the Pilates system, and they are committed to fully supporting each individual’s Pilates journey.
Apprentice of Contrology® believes that Pilates, when preserved in its original form, represents one of the most excellent exercise systems possible, and is driven by the passion to maintain and protect its authenticity.
Director – Jihye Kim
Jihye’s movement journey began with rhythmic gymnastics in childhood, later expanding into various fitness modalities to enhance her physical conditioning. She excelled in her academic pursuits, graduating at the top of her class with both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Dance Kinesiology, and she is currently pursuing her doctoral research in Physical Education. Her career flourished as she won top awards at international dance festivals as a professional dancer and choreographer.
In 2004, she began her career as a Pilates instructor after obtaining her first certification, a natural extension of her life in motion. During her time as both an artist and a Pilates instructor, she completed three comprehensive Pilates training programs, the PMA, and many other fitness certifications.
In 2011, at a personal turning point in her life as an artist, she chose to step away and revisit the various physical disciplines she had experienced, both as a leader and as a participant. This period included training in Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis, among numerous other methods, while her desire for functional movement continued unabated.
In 2015, her journey led her to Los Angeles, where she met Jay Grimes. This meeting became the luckiest moment of her movement life. At Vintage Pilates, where Jay Grimes was the director and Sandy Shimoda the owner, she rediscovered her passion and quenched her thirst for movement.
She was the first from Asia to be selected for and graduate from Jay Grimes’s Master Program, and even after graduation, she continued her training and practice under his education and teachings for approximately ten years, until his passing. During that period, she fully focused and consolidated her long-standing journey toward functional movement within that environment. Based on this experience, she was the first to introduce the complete Pilates system and Original Classes to the Korean market.
She is the author of the books ‘My Second Passion’ and ‘We’re Each Other’s First,’ and she seeks to share the positive physical and mental transformations of Pilates with others as both a guide and participant.
Currently, she is the director of POP PILATES™ and the Apprentice of Contrology®, continuing her passion for sharing her expertise.
How to connect
If you would like to invite Jihye for a workshop or make a request, please contact via email, and you’ll receive a detailed catalog.