The History of Pilates

Born in 1880 in Düsseldorf, Germany, Joseph Pilates, a German national of Greek descent, became an avid exercise enthusiast and developed his body into superb condition. During WWI, he was interned in the Isle of Man with other German nationals and POWs. A trained nurse in his native Germany, he was investigating ways that he could rehabilitate bed-ridden victims of the 1918 influenza pandemic. Thus he created a series of movements that could be practiced within the confines of this controlled environment. The Pilates Reformer (a piece of Pilates apparatus) is based on an old hospital bed. Returning to Germany briefly after the war, he then began training professional boxers and police officers. He then moved to the United States and opened his own training studio in New York city in 1926 with his wife Clara.

Instead of performing many repetitions of each exercise, Pilates preferred fewer, more precise movements, requiring control and form. He designed more than 500 specific exercises. The most frequent form, called "matwork," involves a series of calisthenic motions performed without weight or apparatus on a padded mat. He believed that mental health and physical health were essential to one another. Pilates created what is claimed to be a method of total body conditioning that emphasizes proper alignment, centering, concentration, control, precision, breathing, and flowing movement (The Pilates Principles) that results in increased flexibility, strength, muscle tone, body awareness, energy, and improved mental concentration.

Although the two components (matwork and machine based) are often taught separately now, the method was always meant to combine both matwork and equipment exercises. In all forms, the "powerhouse" (abdomen, lower back, and buttocks) is supported and strengthened, enabling the rest of the body to move freely. Pilates' focus on building core muscles and postural awareness are especially well indicated for the alleviation and prevention of back pain.
Pilates has been used to train dancers and many professional athletes in flexibility and physical strength. It hass now gained acceptance amongst the medical profession, even for conditions previously contra-indicated such as pregnancy.

Pilates was designed to be a complete physical fitness discipline. Once mastered, Pilates trains, strengthens, tones and realigns the entire body.
Pilates largely avoids high impact, high power output, and heavy muscular and skeletal loading. The emphasis is not simply building muscle mass. Its focus is unique in its emphasis on lengthening and alignment. That's how it prevents injury.

Joseph Pilates died in 1967, with Clara running the studio for another 11 years whilst training other practioners to pass on the method of his work.