Pilates was originally called the method of Contrology. It was developed by a man called Joseph “Joe” Hubertus Pilates who was born in Germany in on 8th December 1880. As a child he was plagued with rickets, asthma and rheumatic fever. Determined to overcome these childhood ailments, he took on various physical activities including body-building, gymnastics, skiing and diving. His father was a prize-winning gymnast and his mother a naturopath – both of whom likely influenced the path he took in pursuing movement and well-being. He studied Eastern and Western forms of exercise and philosophies and was greatly influenced by ancient Grecian and Roman regimens of attaining and maintaining physical and mental perfection.
In 1912, Pilates travelled to England. When World War I broke out, being a German national, was interned in a camp on the Isle of Man. It was here that he be began devising his system of original exercises that he later called “Contrology.” Taking springs from beds and rigging up exercise apparatuses for the bedridden, he devised his earliest rehabilitation equipment. Pilates is credited with assisting many who had succumbed to the influenza epidemic of that time and helping others recover from wartime diseases.
After the war, Joseph Pilates returned to Germany and worked with the Hamburg Military Police, training them in self-defence and physical conditioning. He also began taking on personal clients during this time. He continued to explore Eastern European holistic therapies including holistic medicine, meditation, modern dance, homeopathy, Trigger Point therapy and breath work. In 1925, Pilates was invited by the German government to train the new German Army. Not liking the direction Germany was heading in politically, Joseph decided to leave for America.
En route to America, Joe met his wife Clara, a young nurse who became an integral partner in helping develop and teach his method. Settling in New York, Joe and Clara opened up the first Pilates Studio in 1926. Joe’s client base grew rapidly. His clientele was diverse and included New York’s high society such as Katherine Hepburn; many American ballet and modern dancers; gymnasts; boxers and other athletes of the time.
The essence of Pilates focuses on Joe’s work of doing fewer, more precise movements which require control and form. He designed more than 600 specific exercises designed across five major pieces of unique exercise equipment that he claimed should be used for best results. Joseph believed that mental and physical health were essential to one another. Pilates created a method of complete body conditioning that focuses on the Pilates Principles of proper alignment, centring, concentration, control, precision, breathing and flow. The fusion of these principles aim to develop increased flexibility, strength, body awareness, energy and improved mental aptitude within the human body.
Joe worked tirelessly to promote his work; however was unsuccessful in having his work embraced mainstream. Joe knew his work was “50 years ahead of (his) time.” In spite of these rejections, the method was quietly taking root in several Manhattan institutions and by the mid 1960’s, had begun to spread beyond New York with the first generation of teachers continuing to practice and teach Pilates’ philosophy and techniques.
In January 1966, there was a fire at 939 Eighth Avenue. Joe attempted to salvage what he could and fell through the burnt-out floorboards, hanging by his hands from a beam until he was rescued by the fire-fighters. Some believe this incident led to his death in October 1967 at the age of 87.
With the entrance of the new millennium, interest in mind-body disciplines and intelligent exercise options finally brought forward Joseph Pilates’ vision into a global phenomenon, known simply as “Pilates”. Today Pilates is a worldwide phenomenon with over 12 million people practicing the method. Joseph regarded his method as a way of life and a path to total health rather than merely a series of exercises. Joseph truly believed that “not only is health a normal condition, but it is our duty to not only to attain it but to maintain it.”
Thank you PMA; Pilates Foundation; Balanced Body; Your Health (1934) and Return To Life (1945) for providing this information.