A brief history of Joseph Pilates (pee-lah-tehz)

Joseph Pilates was born in Germany in 1880. As a child, Joe suffered through many illnesses as a result of a weak immune system. He studied Yoga, Martial Arts, Zen meditation, and Greek and Roman exercises in hopes of becoming stronger both mentally and physically. Around the start of WWI, Joe was placed under forced internment with other German Nationals in England. Here he began devising his matwork regimen based on a series of exercises in which he called "Contrology." He was later transferred to another camp where he became a nurse and caretaker to those stricken with wartime disease and injuries. It was in this camp that Joe began playing with other forms of movement more suitable for people that needed physical rehabilitation. By rigging bed springs to the ends of hospital beds, he used spring resistance to help bring back mobility to those that were bedridden. Some speculate that it was the work of Joseph Pilates that made this particular camp resistant to the plague of 1918, not a single man was affected.

In 1923, Joe left Germany and immigrated to the United States. On his trip across the Atlantic Joe met Clara, the woman that would eventually become his wife. Clara was a nurse and shared Joe's ideals in the development of functional movement and muscular balance in the body. Together, Joe and Clara expanded and improved Joe's Contrology method. They added more equipment and established a studio in New York City.

The Pilates technique was very unique for its time. Joe and Clara encouraged movement in the early stages of rehabilitation at a time when rest and stabilizations were the most popular methods. They concluded that by reintroducing movement by using resistance and assistance early in the rehabilitation stages hastened the healing process. This process also re-educated the muscles to use the appropriate amount of effort for any given movement.

During their time Joe and Clara continued to learn, teach, and expand their systematic movement practice. Today, their legacy can be found in the master teachers that were personally trained by Joe and Clara, and the master teachers that will come after them. By now there are many different forms and styles of the Pilates method, but the uniting factors are the five principals (see below) that Joseph created as the basis of his work. Joe had a vision that through his unique method of mental and physical conditioning, one could live a more healthful and meaningful life.

The Pilates Method generally focuses on five main points:

Breathing: Joseph Pilates believed in the need for blood circulation through breathing. This in turn would awaken the cells in the body and help eliminate fatigue by removing waste. Through proper breathing, Pilates maintained, blood needed to be charged with oxygen. Pilates saw forced exhalation as the key to full inhalation.

Centering: Centering relates to the "core" of the body: Mainly, the abdomen, lower back, hips, and buttocks. Pilates exercises focus on strengthening these areas, which in turn strengthens the outer extremities. Having a strong core aids in coordination, endurance and balance.

Concentration: Part of the Pilates method is for its users to concentrate on their movement and breathing during the exercises. Because the whole body is assessed during movement, it is important for those performing Pilates to be able to concentrate on the subtle movements that can effect the benefits of Pilates.

Control: Joseph Pilates built his method on the idea of muscle control. All movements, he insisted, must be controlled. To achieve the highest result, the exercises are to be performed with purpose and discipline, and all body parts must be attuned to the movement. Proper form is more important than intensity or number of repetitions.

Precision:Because every movement in the Pilates method has a purpose, it is important to pay attention to every detail of the exercise. Every instruction is vitally important to the success of the whole. Perfection in movement is the ultimate goal. This concept is meant to carry over into every day life, where moving with grace and balance becomes second nature.