Joseph H. Pilates was born in Germany and came to America after an internment in England during World War I. He settled in Manhattan with his wife, Clara, and they opened the very first Pilates studio on Eighth Avenue (at the time, Mr. Pilates referred to his system as “Contrology,” or the study of conscious body control). Joe Pilates soon became well-known within professional dance circles as the man to see to recover from injuries, as the field of Physical Therapy did not exist at that time. His methods may have seemed highly unconventional to some, but the results were undeniable.

 

The first exercises Mr. Pilates developed were his mat exercises, which are done on the floor using gravity and one’s own body weight for resistance. He later designed and built the “odd-looking” apparatuses people are familiar with today, which have movable parts utilizing resistance from springs. A true visionary, Joe Pilates first adapted some of the mat exercises for his machines, and then created literally hundreds more for this ingenious equipment. These two groups of exercises are referred to as the Classical Repertoire.

 

Defining Pilates today has become more and more difficult. Mr. Pilates original disciples (often referred to as the “elders”), some of whom are still teaching, each have a slightly different opinion of what The Method is. That can be attributed to the different aspects of his work that Mr. Pilates emphasized with each of these students, based on what they needed individually. As Pilates has literally exploded in recent years, many teachers have placed their own spin on what Pilates is. There is both an upside and a downside to this, depending on the skill and understanding of who is doing the spinning.

 

Today, Pilates is one of the fastest growing exercise systems in the world. Why is it gaining in popularity so quickly? Because, it works. Young or old, female or male, athlete or couch potato, the Pilates Method can benefit anyone who practices it.

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