The Etymology Series: Why ‘Rebel’?

Why Rebel Pilates Collective? We’re kicking off a series of etymologies of words important to the RPC mission with this week’s investigation into the origins of the word rebel. 

Oxford Languages notes that, before the Old French ‘rebelle’ became the English ‘rebel’, the word’s roots are in Latin. ‘Rebellis’ is based on the Latin word for war (bellum) and refers specifically to the declaration of war. Colloquially, ‘rebellis’ described the newfound declaration of war by the defeated, foreshadowing our contemporary understanding of rebels as challenging the norm. 

Then again, RPC hasn’t been defeated, and we certainly aren’t declaring war. But nonetheless, these linguistic particularities illuminate important facets of our mission. 

Rebel Pilates Collective is a home for voices and bodies that are so often marginalized in our industry. We seek to challenge harmful ideas, individuals, and groups that encourage exclusion and elitism in Pilates by creating a program that is always striving for accessibility, inclusivity, and diversity–and always in progress. The urgency of ‘rebellis’ echoes that constant tempo at which our mission must adapt, whether to information uncovered by new archival research, scientific findings bearing on the movement system, or adaptations uncovered by rectifying harm in our industry. 

Being a Pilates rebel means being inspired by the new and attentive to the old. What Joseph Pilates taught as Contrology forms the backbone of our practice, just as we’re driven forward by new applications of Pilates that deepen our understanding of the movement system. It also means a willingness to stand up for what you believe in; anything less dilutes the wellbeing that Pilates offers, and we believe everyone should feel welcome in this uniquely orthodox and progressive movement practice. 
Being a part of Rebel Pilates Collective isn’t coincidental--it means you believe in the transformative nature of Pilates and your ability to move others with it. Toni Morrison wrote in Beloved: “Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined.” At RPC, we claim ‘rebel’ like we claim Pilates, fighting for a vision of movement where everyone has a say, all bodies are welcome, and the practice only brings you closer to yourself and those around you.