All About Pilates

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History of Joseph H. Pilates

Who was Joseph Pilates and what is the exercise method that bears his name?

Joseph H. Pilates was born in Germany in 1880. Former acrobat, pugilist and World War I POW, he developed into what can only be described as a fitness visionary. After decades of research, he brought to New York City in 1926 a method of body conditioning the likes of which health and exercise enthusiasts had never seen. Rather than focusing on sets of repetitive weight-bearing movements, Pilates developed a series of specialized exercises to build strength, control and flexibility. Many of the exercises could be performed on nothing more than a floor mat, although hundreds were developed using a series of specialized machines.

Joseph Pilates taught his method of "Contrology" until 1967, when he died at the age of 87. Now, more than seventy years after its introduction, the Pilates Method of Body Conditioning has become one of the most popular forms of fitness training available. Not only has the professional dance community embraced it as the premier method of core-strength training, but also athletes and celebrities have used it over the decades to develop the svelte, powerful bodies that their professions demand.

Despite this somewhat glamorous background, Pilates training continues to be one of the fastest growing exercise methods for all walks of life-- from preteens to octogenarians, Pilates is embraced not only as a form of specialized training and physical rehabilitation, but as a deeply effective method of achieving health and well-being.

Simply put, Pilates feels good. As Joseph Pilates himself said, "You will feel better in 10 sessions, look better in 20 sessions, and have a completely new body in 30 sessions."