A LITTLE PILATES HISTORY 

JOSEPH HUBERTUS PILATES (1880 – 1967)

Joseph Pilates was born in 1880 in Germany. Throughout his childhood he was frail and sickly, suffering from rickets, asthma, and rheumatic fever. In order to overcome this ill-health Joseph practised a variety of physical fitness programs e.g., Yoga, Zen, Gymnastics, Circus training and Weight training. He experimented by taking elements from each discipline and created his own fitness regime called ‘Contrology.’ This incorporated a perfect balance between body, mind, and spirit. Joseph felt that improved physical health, improved the mind’s health too.

In 1912 Joseph travelled to England as a boxer. However, with the outbreak of WW1, Jospeh was regarded as an ‘Alien’ and interned in a camp on the Isle of Man along with other German nationals. During his time on the Isle of Man, he taught and practised his physical fitness programme where he begun devising apparatus to aid in the rehabilitation of the disabled and sick. When WW1 ended, Joseph returned to Germany and trained the Hamburg Police, but when instructed to train the newly formed German Army, he decided to leave for America.

On the journey over to New York he met Clara, his future wife; who was a nursery nurse. Once in New York, they set up his Pilates fitness studio, working alongside the New York City Ballet; as well as athletes, gymnasts, and circus performers. The studio soon attracted top dancers, actors, gymnasts, and athletes. They recognised the importance of strength without the bulk but with the combination of flexibility. Pilates strongly advocated the discipline of mind and body; recognising that only with the commitment to exercise could results be realised. Joseph tailored all his exercises (in total more than 600 for the various pieces of equipment) to each individual client needs. Moreover, these clients often went on to teach their own interpretation of ‘Contrology’ - Pilates. These clients are now regarded to be the ‘Elders’ who uphold the teaching of (what we now know) to be Pilates.