OUR STORY
Callan Pinckney created Callanetics in the early 70s following a decade of backpacking around the world. During a stay in London, she was diagnosed with knee and back injuries so severe she was advised to have surgery. She experimented with various movement techniques to cure her travel-damaged body without going under the surgeon’s knife. The following year, she settled in New York and began developing Callanetics – a unique style of exercise that healed her body and revolutionised the fitness world.
THE LONG WAY HOME
THE TRAVEL MEMOIRS OF CALLAN PINCKNEY
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the eyes of a passionate wanderer.
Callan Pinckney – founder of the Callanetics fitness method – invites you to travel the globe alongside her, sharing tales of stunning landscapes, vibrant cultures, and the profound connections forged along the way.
Join her as she discovers that the true adventure lies not just in the destinations, but in the experiences that shape our lives.
FITNESS PIONEER.
After my world travels, I looked terrible and was in constant pain. I got to the point to where I couldn’t even get out of bed in the morning. I started experimenting with the exercises I had learned from Lotte Berk in London and with motions taken from ballet and Martha Graham technique, plus my training in judo at the Kodokan School in Tokyo. I incorporated intense disciplines I had experienced on my travels, including belly dancing and Tai Chi. It was impossible for me to make big or sudden movements – my body just couldn’t do it. That’s where the little tiny pulsing movement that you see in all my exercises comes from. I physically couldn’t move more than that.
Doctors later said to me, “Callan, that was so clever of you to come up with the 1/16th to 1⁄2 an inch motion.” And I just looked at them and said, “I’d love to take credit for it, but it really wasn’t intended that way. It was the only way I could move my body. I couldn’t move it any more.”
Callan Pinckney
REDEFINING FITNESS, ONE PULSE AT A TIME.
Every successful fitness program has its own ‘secret sauce’, a key distinction as to why the program produces amazing results. For CALLANETICS®….it’s all about the Pulse!
The Pulse is a tiny, gentle, precise movement that produces the renowned, CALLANETICS® sculpting and toning effect. It is this pulsing action, combined with exact positioning and proper body alignment, which makes CALLANETICS® so efficient, without any jarring or stress on your joints. Pulses are used with designated exercises in every position-standing, sitting, kneeling, lying, to target the muscles you most want to re-define while strengthening your spine and other joints at the same time.
These controlled, miniscule, tiny movements are the predominant, most noticeable difference when comparing CALLANETICS® to other conventional exercise programs.
I'M NOT JUST TIGHT, I'M LETHAL!
I like to say that Callanetics defies gravity, because every second of every day gravity is pulling your muscles down, causing your body to droop, sag and spread over the years. With Callanetics, however, as you work to get your muscles strong, your muscles will lift, taking the skin with them and restoring everything to a more youthful position, producing those sleek, tight body contours we all so admire.
Callan Pinckney
FAST, SAFE, NO-IMPACT.
CALLANETICS® strengthens, without impact. The exercises are designed to protect your back, as well as every other part of your body. In no time at all you will look and feel truly amazing. Whatever your age or ability, you will soon find that your muscles are able to do things that seemed impossible the last time you tried. And it’s simple to learn.
FIT FOREVER.
The unique movements of Callanetics strengthen and relax you at the same time. No longer will you feel exhausted or drained after a workout. You’ll feel energized and empowered. My fitness philosophy is to work with what you have. There’s always room for improvement. No one-certainly not me-has a perfect body. No one has a perfect life. We have to find the right balance to make ourselves healthy, happy, and productive.
Of course I can’t promise you that Callanetics or any exercise/fitness program will add years to your life, but I can promise you that exercise should improve the quality of your life.
Callan Pinckney
SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A WORKOUT.
By practising CALLANETICS® regularly, not only will you notice a wonderful transformation of your figure, but as you learn to be in control of your body you will also feel more alert, your self-confidence will increase and you will be motivated to do so much more in your life. And feeling in control of your body actually helps to reduce stress. Our goal is to help you to develop a positive attitude – towards your body and your life.
THE FORMATION OF THE METHOD.
The revolutionary CALLANETICS® workout, created by Callan Pinckney, was slow to catch on. She successfully got a book published in 1984 but it failed to get noticed and the publisher cancelled the second print run. So, in true Callan style, she took to the road and ventured across America visiting every possible bookstore and TV station along the way. She refused to give up and did everything she could to get her voice heard. Her determination to spread the word paid off, and a year later her book became a No 1 bestseller.
CALLANETICS® took the entire world by storm. No one had experienced anything like it before. Callan had developed a unique way of moving that not only toned and shaped the body incredibly fast, but also appeared to reverse aging and prevent the back and knee injuries that commonly occurred in gym classes. She went on to build an empire dedicated to this new method of fitness, selling millions of books and videos around the world and opening the door for credible alternatives to aerobics and weight lifting.
Nothing was more successful than CALLANETICS®, both commercially and in the results achieved by its students. Callan’s influence can be seen across the fitness world in many modern-day workouts. Pilates and barre classes will often have elements of CALLANETICS® incorporated into their moves, either knowingly or not. Her unique exercises are as relevant today as they were 40 years ago, possibly more so. As people move toward intelligent and mindful workouts, there has been a strong resurgence in the demand for CALLANETICS® classes and the incredible benefits it delivers for the mind and body. Even today, Callan’s original work is still ahead of its time.
CALLANETICS TODAY.
Callan Pinckney passed away in 2012. She built a brand name and a thriving business. She was committed to her program and her loyal followers; she had healed herself with her CALLANETICS® technique to then share her methods and pass it on. Callan disciples continue to remember her. The younger generation reminisces of doing CALLANETICS® with their moms; some have continued to do CALLANETICS® today.
Callan had made such a huge impact with her exercises, the word CALLANETICS® was added to the Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, and the Free Medical Dictionary.
Callan was inducted, posthumous into the National Fitness Hall of Fame in 2016 for her contributions to the fitness industry. CALLANETICS® videos still receive rave, 5-star reviews, including the original program; never has a brand stood this test of time.
We are fully committed to honoring the authentic CALLANETICS® program, designed by Callan. The bottom line is….it works!
