“Pilates is complete coordination of body, mind and spirit”
Joseph Pilates
Pilates is a form of exercise that was developed by Joseph Pilates during the early part of the twentieth century. Joseph was born in Germany in 1883. His father was a metal worker and gymnast, his mother a naturopath, and their beliefs were a great influence on Joseph. Joseph didn’t enjoy good health as a child , suffering from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever. He worked endlessly on improving his physical strength and became an accomplished sportsperson. Joseph moved to the U.K. in 1912 and worked as a circus performer, boxer and self defence instructor.
During the First World War, Joseph was interned on the Isle of Mann and it was here that he continued to develop his physical fitness regime, which he called “contrology” working with the other German detainees to help them maintain their physical condition. During the latter part of his detention working as a hospital orderly, caring for patients who were unable to walk Joseph started to attach springs to their bed frames to support the weight of their limbs so that they could start to exercise again, leading to the development of the Cadillac, which is very well known piece of Pilates equipment still used today.
After the war, Joseph returned to his native Germany , but soon after emigrated to the USA in around 1925. He met his future wife Clara on the voyage and together they settled and set up a studio in New York where they taught the Pilates method of exercise to many people, especially dancers until the 1960’s when Joseph Pilates died. They also trained other teachers to continue their work and the Pilates concept grew in popularity and became known throughout many parts of the world.
Since that time, many people have come to practise Pilates and there are a large number of Pilates training institutes and methods but they are all based on the six original principles taught by Joseph Pilates of breath, concentration, centring , control, precision and flow.
Pilates For All 