The history of Joseph Hubertus Pilates

Pilates tried many different forms of exercise and therefore became an accomplished sportsman. Pilates practiced Yoga, martial arts, skiing, boxing, gymnastics, bodybuilding and diving.
His body became very well developed and was therefore asked to be a model for anatomical charts. He really developed a great interest in the Human Body and he used to study an old anatomy book, which had been given to him by his family doctor.

Pilates finished formal education by the time he was fourteen but he continued studying the human anatomy and this molded his future beliefs.

Pilates moved to England when he was thirty-two years old in 1912. He was trying to avoid the German military draft. He started to work as a circus performer, self-defense instructor and a boxer.

He developed the Pilates Matwork routine in 1914, just as the war broke out. He started to help and assist injured people at an interment camp on the Isle of Man. He came up with a way to create resistance and developed some strength based exercises using the beds with springs. This was the start of the Universal Pilates Reformer, which is still used today in Pilates settings. All off the internees that used the Reformer survived the deadly influenza that killed thousands of people in England.

Joseph Pilates then returned to England in the early 1920s. Five years later, in 1925, he immigrated to the United States. He met his wife Clara on the journey there. Clara was a Nursery and Kindergarten teacher. Clara also suffered health problems such as arthritic pain.
Joseph shared his knowledge about his beliefs about the human body and ways on how to improve health, which created a personal and professional bond.

Joseph and Clara settled in New York. In 1926 they opened up their first fitness centre, which was called Contrology. Contrology was the name Joseph had chosen for what we know as Pilates.
Joseph taught people from all walks of life but also became good friends with many great dancers and choreographers. His unique exercise method grew a reputation amongst them in the 1940s and he built up a wide clientele amongst New York’s dancers and actors.

Many world famous people and celebrities are using the Pilates Method. Many sportspeople are also using the method to improve or correct physical imbalances imposed by rigorous sports training.

Pilates work was based around creating excellent health & physical strength although he also believed this should complement broader approach to life and its goals. He thought it was important to work on both the mind as well as the body.

Joseph Pilate died from pneumonia in 1967, shortly after his Contrology Pilates Studio suffered a fire. Joseph was trapped inside suffering smoke inhalation and this was the major cause of his death.
Many of Joseph Pilates students became very knowledgably with his method and opened their own Pilates Studios.

Each Pilates teacher, even up to this day give their own interpretation to the basic exercise program that was created by Joseph Pilates.

Joseph wrote two books called “Your Health” (1934) and “Return to Life Through Contrology” (1945), which I suggest you read if you are interested in learning more about him and the unique Pilates exercise method that he developed.