23/04/2026
Discover Pilates - The story behind the method
Joseph Pilates was born in Germany in 1883. He was a very sick child, suffering from asthma, rheumatic fever and rickets. His mother was a naturopath and his father a gymnast. Joseph Pilates was working on his physical health from early childhood onwards. He practised gymnastics, bodybuidling, martial arts and more. Over time he was getting stronger and his illness improved.
In 1912 he moved to England, working as a circus performer. In World War 1 he was interned because of his german nationality.
During this time he started to rehabilitate injured, sick and disabled prisoners of war with his fitness program. He also converted hospital beds, using the bedsprings and the metal bed frame intself to convert the beds, so they could be used for exercises.
After war he emigrated to the U.S., following an invitation from the manager of box champion Max Schmeling. He settled in New York, opened his first studio, which he called gymnasium, further developed mat exercises, his method and other apparatus such as the cadillac, spine corrector (a little bigger than our baby arcs), and the Wund Chair.
His method was called "Contrology", with the goal to exercise the whole body, not just training individual muscles. He wanted people to achieve good health, the way it worked for him. ❤🙏
