History of Pilates

Pilates was invented by man who used to suffer from rickets, asthma and rheumatic fever from a young age. Joseph Pilates studied and memorised the anatomy and movement of the human body. Joseph was a boxer, gymnasts and skilled diver who used his experiences to help others in need. During WW1 Joseph began helping those suffering from wartime diseases, he began devising equipment to rehabilitate patients who were bed ridden. After the war he was asked to train the german army, however he refused due to disagreeing political views. He ended up in the United States of America, where he opened a gym in New York. This is where Joseph taught “Contrology” , he designed pilates to help focus on developing core muscles whilst creating flexibility and strengthening surrounding structures. Pilates is now used as a world wide exercise method, which combines mental conditioning with physical training.