What is Pilates?

The Pilates Method is a form of exercise based around a series of physical movements designed to both improve both health and fitness. Until recently, the Pilates Method has been almost exclusively used by dancers, where it has been widely used for finess and rehabilitation for decades. In the last ten years however, Pilates has gained a foothold in the wider community, and continues to gain in popularity.

The History of Pilates

Joseph Pilates - the founder of the Method - was born in Germany in 1880. In his youth, he suffered from several medical problems and conditions which left him weak and frail. His strong beliefs in the benefits of personal fitness led him to a life of rigorous physical training and exercise, and despite his health problems as a child, he remained a fit and capable man throughout his life. He rehabilitated himself through a combination of eastern and western forms of health conditioning, including zen meditation, boxing, karate and gymnastics.

At the age of 32, Pilates travelled to England, where he worked in various roles including; fitness instructor, circus performer and self defence teacher. At the outbreak of World War I, he was captured and held at an internment camp as an enemy alien. During his time at this camp, Pilates lent his expertise in health rehabilitation to other patients. Along with conducting a series of exercises on mats, he developed a method of exercising while lying down. This allowed patients who couldn't get up to keep their muscles in use through moving springs with their arms and legs. This machine was later named the Cadillac by Pilates.

From the development of the cadillac, Pilates invented similar machines and his trademark method of fitness rehabilitation. He called this method "contrology", but rather than this name defining his work, his own name eventually would.

In 1964, The Herald Tribune noted, "In dance classes around the United States, hundreds of young students limber up daily with an exercise they know as pilates, without knowing that the word has a capital P and a living, right-breathing namesake."

As the popularity of the Pilates method grew, a student of Pilates, Corola Trier, was among the first to open a new studio teaching the works of Pilates. Alongside Joseph Pilates she worked on developing studio techniques and ideas.

Joseph Pilates died in 1968 in New York. He had left no will, and consequently hadn't named anyone as a successor to his works or methods. His wife Clara continued to run their studio in New York however, and by this time it was known simply as "The Pilates Studio". The Studio changed hands in the early 70's as Clara grew too old to maintain it, and later in that decade other Pilates studios began to open.

The Pilates method continues to be taught today, and many fourth and fifth generation instructors follow Joseph's practices and teachings.

Pilates Today

Pilates in the present day is taught all over the world, in many different studios and gymnasiums. As an exercise form and method of injury rehabilitation, it is slowly gaining a foothold in the wider social consciousness.

Pilates was first developed before many of the medical and scientific breakthroughs of the current day, and many studios are continuously adapting their methods accordingly.