Joseph Pilates

Where does Pilates originate from?

In the 1920’s a man called Joseph Pilates explored various techniques and movements of the body to stretch our bones and muscles. He created a method that combined mental and physical conditioning that relieved stress and tension. By the 1990’s Pilates had exploded into the fitness scene and people wanted an exercise that also delivered a strong mind and body. Joseph Pilates stated: “In 10 sessions you’ll feel the difference, in 20 you’ll see the difference, in 30 you’ll have a whole new body”. Nowadays, Pilates is very popular and is recommended by doctors especially for pregnant woman and the elderly.

What lead to his discovery?

Joseph Pilates was born with serious childhood illnesses including rickets, asthma and rheumatic fever. He had a strong determination to exceed his life expectancy so experimented with many different health and fitness approaches that were based around the body, mind and spirit. With theses exercises he managed to rebuild his body strength and became an avid skier, diver, gymnast and boxer with a fine physique. He uses elements from yoga, martial arts, gymnastics, skiing, self-defence, dance, circus training and weight training and selected the most effective aspects from each exercise to create a system that promoted the perfect balance of strength and flexibility; he called this ‘Crontrolgy’.

With his wife, Joseph Pilates set up a studio in New York where he taught and preached his Crontrolgy methods. He shared all his ideas and knowledge about Pilates and the benefits it has on the body and mind. This photo shows Joseph teaching one of his first group of clients.