Joseph Pilates

Joseph H. Pilates was born in Germany in 1880, developing an interest in body conditioning all his life. Frail during childhood his quest for strength made him a successful skier, diver, gymnast and boxer.

Joseph Pilates, also known as Joe, became a performer and boxer around 1914, making England his home. When World War-I (WWI) started, he was subject to forced internment like other German citizens in Lancaster, England.

In the England camp he gave lessons to other camp members in the concepts and exercises resulting from over 20 years of self-study and apprenticeship in yoga, Zen and ancient Greek and Roman physical regimens. It was also then that he came up with original exercises that are now called matwork referring to floor exercises. Contrology was the name he gave this regimen.

1926 was the year he emigrated to the United States. He met Clara, now his wife, en-route. Once in New York, he got started with a fitness studio, with an address co-shared with New York City Ballet. Joe became the proponent of his method while Clara his wife, being a trained nurse, set about adding health benefits into the exercises and methods for the chronically ill and injured clients. The unique approach went on to inspire a dedicated lineage of teachers who wove into the Pilates’ regimen, their own additions that endure to this day. Clara had a pivotal role in ensuring recognition of Pilates as a positive movement-based exercise with the flexibility to meet every level of fitness as well as health.

Early 1960s saw several New York dancers joining Joe and Clara’s clientele. Among them was George Balanchine who apart from being a student, at Joe’s as he referred to it, also got Pilates to teach his young ballerinas at the New York City Ballet.

Over time, many changes were incorporated into Pilates method. Nevertheless it is now an internationally renowned choice for every fitness level for individuals as well as dance companies, Broadway productions, performing arts school and university students, sports squads, spa clients and fitness enthusiasts at private health clubs and gyms.