History of Pilates

Pilates was designed by Joseph Pilates during World
War I to improve the rehabilitation program for the
returning veterans. Joseph Pilates had the belief that
both mental health and physical health are essential
to one another.

He recommended some precise body movements that
control and form to aid injured soldiers. These
movements were used to regain their health by
strengthening, stretching and stabilizing the key
muscles in the body.

He created the Pilates Principles to condition the
whole body aiding in proper alignment, centering,
concentration, control, precision, breathing and
flowing movement.

The Pilates method is a physical fitness system, which
Joseph Pilates developed in the early 20th century. As
of 2005, there are eleven million people who practice
pilates regularly.

There are also 14,000 instructors in the United States
alone. Pilates believed his method uses the mind to
control the muscles. Focuses for this program are on
the core postural muscles, which help keep the body
balanced.

These are essential to providing support for the spine
and in turn supports the entire body. Pilates teaches
awareness of breathing and the alignment of the spine
and aim to strengthen the deep torso muscles.

Joseph Pilates was a legendary physical fitness
trainer born in Germany in 1880. As a child he was
small and frail. This fuelled his fascination for
physical fitness that would make him stronger and more
physically attractive.

He later became an accomplished skier, boxer and
gymnast. In 1926, he and his wife opened their first
studio in New York City. Many of their first clients
were from the dancing world.