About Joseph Pilates

Joseph H Pilates was born in Dusseldorf, Germany in 1880. As the result of a frail childhood, Joe began to build-up his strength and general health by adapting various aspects of gymnastics, martial arts, dance and yoga in an attempt to develop a strong and flexible body. This early personal goal would in time lead to Joe's lifelong interest in body conditioning exercises, later to become more commonly known as the 'Pilates Method'. In 1912, Joe left Germany for England and trained initially as a professional boxer.
At the outbreak of World War 1, Joe was interned in England (being at that time a German National) and was sent to the Isle of Man to work as a nurse. During this period he designed and developed various exercise apparatus for the use of immobilized patients by attaching springs to hospital beds as an aid to recovery and rehabilitation. It was during this period that he constructed and developed an important piece of equipment that was later to become better known as the 'Pilates Reformer'.
At the end of World War 1, Joe briefly returned to Germany before finally migrating to the United States where he continued to develop and formalize his fitness regime, culminating in the opening of his first 'Pilates Studio' in New York in 1926. His clients came from all walks of life, although a significant turning point for Joe came when during the 1940's, the dance community embraced the 'Pilates Method' with such legends as George Ballanchine and Martha Graham sending their dancers to his studio for injury prevention and rehabilitation classes.
Since that time, the 'Pilates Method' has been adopted by a broad spectrum of users worldwide and at all levels of fitness, including not only dance companies, but also various sectors of sport including golf, rugby, football and athletics, to name only a few. After his death in 1967, Joe's legacy was passed down to his trusted apprentices, notable Eve Gentry, Ron Fletcher and Romana Krysonowska. The legacy continues to the present day with many different styles of Pilates exercise being taught worldwide.