Meet Bill Hennerty of Pilates House of Contrology

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bill Hennerty.

Hi Bill, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey to Pilates House of Contrology began with a realization that there was so much more to Pilates than what I had originally understood.

As I became more deeply involved in the method, I became fascinated by its history, its original purpose, and the people who carried Joseph Pilates’ work forward. I wanted to understand the method as a complete system, not simply learn a collection of exercises. That led me into years of study and apprenticeship, including studying under Pilates Master Tiziana Trovati and becoming her apprentice.

That distinction is important to me because an apprenticeship represents many years of hands on study, observation, practice, and learning directly from a teacher. It is very different from simply completing a certification program.

Over time, my respect for the original method and its lineage continued to grow. I became increasingly committed to preserving and teaching Classical Pilates as a complete system, in the way Joseph Pilates and his elders intended it to be understood.

That eventually led me to open Pilates House of Contrology in downtown Huntington Beach, Ca. I wanted to create something different, a genuine Classical Pilates studio where people could experience the complete method, work on authentic apparatus, and learn how the exercises connect as part of a larger system.

Today, PHOC has become a place where I can continue that work and share what I have learned through years of study. We have clients who come from outside the area, even from other states and counties because they are looking for an authentic Classical Pilates experience while vacationing in our downtown Huntington Beach community.

For me, this journey has never been about simply opening a Pilates studio. It is about continuing to learn, honoring the lineage I have been fortunate enough to study within, and preserving the integrity and history of Contrology for the future. I am still learning today, and I expect that to continue for the rest of my life.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, but I think that is true of anything worth building.

One of the biggest challenges has been the public’s understanding of the method itself. The word “Pilates” has become a very broad, generic term, and there are many different approaches being offered under that name. For me, Classical Pilates/Contrology is something much more specific. It is a complete system with a history, lineage, and method behind it. One of the challenges has been helping people understand that distinction and understand why the original system is different.

The challenge I am working on now is taking that understanding one step further. I want clients to understand the benefits of self practice and eventually become more independent in their practice. Private instruction is extremely valuable, but the method was intended to become something you could practice and use for yourself.

That is why I am encouraging more of my clients to move toward our Classical Open Gym. The goal is not simply to have someone come in for a session and have an instructor take them through exercises. The goal is to teach people the system well enough that they can practice it themselves, understand their own bodies, and continue using the method throughout their lives.

That has been a different way of thinking about the business because it means I am not trying to keep people dependent on private sessions. I am trying to give them the knowledge and confidence to practice on their own.

There have certainly been obstacles along the way, but they have made me more committed to what I am building. I believe that if people truly understand the method and experience the benefits of practicing it for themselves, they begin to see Classical Pilates as something much more meaningful than simply another form of exercise.

I think building something authentic takes time. I would rather take that time and stay true to the method than change what I believe in simply because something else might be easier to sell.

As you know, we’re big fans of Pilates House of Contrology. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Pilates House of Contrology, or PHOC, is a Classical Pilates studio located in downtown Huntington Beach, California. We offer several ways for people to engage with the method, including private instruction, duets, Classical Open Gym, workshops, special presentations, and The Contrology Reading Room™ international online book club.

Our private and duet sessions provide individualized instruction, while Classical Open Gym gives experienced clients the opportunity to develop their own practice and work more independently. We also hold workshops that allow us to explore different aspects of the method in greater depth.

Another important part of PHOC is education beyond the studio floor. We host special presentations featuring authors, historians, and other members of the Classical Pilates community. These events give people an opportunity to hear directly from those who have spent years studying, researching, writing about, and preserving the history of the method.

The Contrology Reading Room™ is an international online book club created by PHOC for the study of Pilates and Contrology. We read and discuss books covering Joseph Pilates, the history of the method, its teachers and elders, and the people who have contributed to its development and preservation. The Reading Room also connects with authors through special presentations and book signings.

The Contrology Reading Room™ is free to join and is open to anyone interested in learning more about the history and development of the method. Anyone interested in joining can email Bill at billh@pilateshoc.com for details.

What I am most proud of is that PHOC has developed into more than a place to take a Pilates session. It has become a place for practice, education, discussion, and connection. Whether someone is working privately with an instructor, practicing independently in the Open Gym, attending a workshop, listening to an author, or participating in the Reading Room, there are different ways to continue learning.

That is what I want people to know about the PHOC brand. We are building a community around the practice and preservation of Contrology, while creating opportunities for people to keep learning long after they first walk through our doors.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I would say persistence, but specifically the persistence to keep learning and developing my own teaching style.

Studying the Classical method and having a teacher or mentor is incredibly important, but eventually you have to develop the ability to communicate what you have learned in your own way. Every person learns differently, and being able to recognize that and find the right way to teach each individual has become a very important part of my development.

My teaching style has evolved through years of study, observation, practice, and working with different types of clients. I am constantly learning what helps someone understand an exercise, a concept, or the larger system.

I also think it is important to remain a student. I don’t believe that you ever reach a point where you know everything about this method. Continuing to study, question, observe, and improve has been a big part of my success.

For me, success is not just about building a successful studio. It is about becoming a better teacher and helping the people I work with get more out of the method than they thought was possible.

Pricing:

• Privates $110-$80 (packages available)
• Duets $90-$60 (Packages available)
• Classical Open Gym $55-$25 (Packages Available)
• Workshops $145

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pilateshoc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pilateshouseofcontrology/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pilates.house.of.contrology
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@pilateshouseofcontrology
• Other: https://www.google.com/search?q=Pilates+House+of+Contrology