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Joseph H. Pilates
The Pilates Method originated from Joseph Pilates who was
born near Dusseldorf in Germany in 1880. Suffering from Asthma, Rickets and
Rheumatic fever as a child, his determination and drive to overcome these
ailments led to the study of both Eastern and Western forms of exercise and to
becoming a competent skier, diver and gymnast.
 In 1912 he went to England and became a boxer and whilst
there World War 1 broke out and he was interned with other German nationals in
Lancaster. Once the war was over he returned to Germany to continue his work
in devising a physical programme.
With the German government interest in his work during 1925,
Joseph Pilates was asked to start training the German army, but instead, he
and his wife chose to emigrate to New York, America, where they opened a body
conditioning studio containing machines that he designed to enhance his
rehabilitation work.
It soon became popular with the dancing community as it
offered them a chance to recover from injuries and improve and strengthen
their technique. Dance legends such as Ruth St Denis, Ted Shawn, Martha
Graham, George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins were amongst the many that
experienced his teachings.
Joseph Pilates always felt that his work was probably fifty
years ahead of its time - and with today's popular explosion of interest, he
was probably right.
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Photo - Pilates Method Alliance Website USA, Org.
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