Who was Joseph Pilates?
Joseph Pilates was born in Germany in 1880. His childhood was plagued with sickness: asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever. However, from a very early age he had a fierce determination to overcome his illnesses and improve his health. To that end, he studied yoga, martial arts, ancient Grecian regimens and boxing. And by age 14 he was modeling for German medical anatomy charts.
Joe left Germany between 1912 and 1914 to travel to England. While he was in England World War I broke out, and, because of his German ancestry, he was placed in an alien camp on the Isle of Man. While there he began developing a series of focused exercises that he called “Contrology;” his goal was to train his fellow prisoners and improve their health in the midst of adverse conditions... He constructed his first apparatus using bed frames and springs to help rehabilitate injured prisoners. After the war Joe returned home to Germany, but later left again because of his country’s political direction.
When he left Germany the second time, he decided to settle in America. He met his future wife, Clara, on a steamship bound for New York City. They married and opened their first Pilates studio in 1926. The studio became wildly popular in New York, attracting many prominent clients and noted dancers such as: George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and Martha Graham. In 1966 there was a fire in the studio, and Joe went into the building to save some equipment and documentation. He fell through the floorboards but managed to pull himself to safety. However, he died the next year as a result of sickness from smoke inhalation.
The Method
The Pilates method was born in response to a societal need. Joseph Pilates saw that modern society was taking an interesting toll on the human body. People were developing a sedentary lifestyle as they became more and more accustomed to sitting in chairs and riding in cars. At the same time, the pace of society was increasing at a rapid rate resulting in additional stress and strain as people worked to simply keep up. With this busy (and getting busier) lifestyle, there was less time devoted to physical fitness. Unsupported posture, sluggishness, the inability to breathe properly and a general lack of fitness were the unfortunate results.
Joe developed what he called “Contrology” exercises, now called the Pilates method. These exercises were specifically designed to restore physical fitness, improve breathing, invigorate the mind, and boost the spirit. His method called for explicit exercises to be performed with precision. The Pilates method, by focusing correct biomechanics while in motion, allowed a person to develop deep, minor muscles; improve flexibility; articulate the spine; and uniformly balance the body.
The Pilates method develops the body, mind and spirit with a whole-person approach that results in functional strength. The Pilates exercises condition your body for the daily activities you will encounter. The Pilates breath helps cleanse the body of toxins and enhances circulation, which, in turn, oxygenates blood flow to muscle tissue. Visual images aid in discovering body awareness, while improving concentration, and stimulating the mind. As the body becomes integrated, mindfully whole and physically strong, your posture improves, your mind is invigorated and free of nervous energy and your body operates more efficiently. You will find you have more energy at the end of the day, and you will feel more confident.
