Joseph Pilates

Yes, there really was a Joe Pilates.

(Before we dive in, just a friendly note. Should one notice a place offering ‘pilates’ instead of ‘Pilates’, probably best for that one to consider better accredited services. It was the dude’s last name - we can do better.)

The inventor of Pilates technique was born in Germany in 1883 a sickly child with asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever. But through his own self education in anatomy and Eastern philosophy, he restored his health to eventually become an avid boxer, skier, and gymnast. While on tour as a circus performer in the era of World War I, he was detained in England as an enemy alien. This is when the Pilates matwork is theorized to have been born. He created movements and exercises to stay healthy which he also taught to his cellmates. Later in the war he served as an orderly. He created a concept for injured soldiers which utilized springs attached to their hospital beds - thus the blueprint for the Pilates equipment. By rigging a spring to a wounded limb in a sling, he could teach therapeutic exercises using the spring weight as resistance.

Joseph and his wife, Clara, moved to New York City in 1926 to open up the first “Body Conditioning Gym.” It caught the attention to many dancers to begin with, who were looking to strengthen and rehab injuries. Actors, high society and athletes began to catch on and then the masses. The generation he personally taught and gave permission to teach themselves were dubbed the Pilates Elders, most of whom were dancers. Like ancient yoga, the original method of Pilates was taught and passed down through word of mouth. He appointed Pilates Elder Romana Kryzanowaska (first generation) his “heir” to continue his method. After living a life claiming never to have taken an aspirin or sustaining an injury, he passed in 1967 at the age of 83.