The History Behind Pilates

Pilates seems to have burst onto the fitness scene out of nowhere, but the reality is that this popular body conditioning practice has been around for decades. The story behind pilates is fascinating and learning more about the origin of this exercise can help you grasp the fundamental philosophy of this mind-body practice.

The creator of pilates was Joseph H. Pilates, a German national who moved to Great Britain before the outbreak of the First World War. He immigrated to England in order to work as a self-defense instructor at Scotland Yard. He was charged with teaching Scotland Yard detectives how to protect themselves on the job.

When World War I broke out, Pilates was interned as an "enemy alien." Pilates turned this potentially dark period into a moment of inspired opportunity. It was during his internment that he refined the principles of his new body conditioning routine.

He taught the other German internees his unique practice to great success. Later while working in a hospital he toyed with the hospital beds to create the first pilates machines. He converted the hospital beds into resistance training machines by rigging the springs on the beds. He taught the wounded soldiers in the hospital his special resistance movements.

When the great influenza of 1918 swept across England, Pilates boasted that all of his patients survived while thousands died. This helped back up his claim that his pilates exercises helped strengthen the whole body and provided a strong defense against disease.

Eventually Pilates returned to Germany, where his methods became popular among professional dancers, including Rudolf von Laban and Hanya Holm. His technique began to receive greater renown, and even the German government sought his expertise. Pilates declined and immigrated to the United States in 1926.

On his voyage to American, Pilates met his future wife Clara. Together they settled in New York and eventually opened a fitness studio located in the same building as the New York City Ballet. Throughout this period, professional New York dancers took up Pilates' methods with great zeal. George Balanchine studied with Pilates, and instructed all his ballerinas to study with Pilates. In this period, as ballet flourished in popularity throughout the United States, pilates began to be incorporated in ballet classes in the 1960s.

As pilates continued to grow in popularity, several of Pilates pupils began teach the pilates method in their own studios. The most well known of Pilates' students turned teachers were Carola Trier and Bob Seed. The relationship with Seed turned sour when he began to actively compete with Pilates for clients.

Even after Pilates death in 1967, his wife Clara carried on his legacy. She continued to operate their popular studio located on Eight Avenue. Some of Pilates' most successful students turned teachers were Ron Fletcher, Kathy Grant, and Lolita San Miguel. These along with a handful of Pilates' other successful students turned students continue to bring Pilates to new generations seeking a solidly effective mind-body conditioning routine and exercise.