Unraveling the History of Pilates: Where Did This Practice Come From?

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The Origin of Pilates: A Journey Through Time

Have you ever wondered where Pilates came from? This popular form of exercise has taken the fitness world by storm, but its roots can be traced back to the early 20th century. Joseph Pilates, a German physical trainer, created this unique workout method. His journey towards developing Pilates was influenced heavily by his own experiences, health struggles, and the environment he grew up in (allegedly.) The history outlined in this post is based on what is currently taught in Pilates Teacher Training circles and is set as the "facts" if one was to take the NCPT. However, after doing some additional research, Graduate Pilates questions the validity of all historical "facts," as they are presented in most training environments, as we have come to take in more information about Joesph Pilates form additional sources, including those close to him and those who have taken a deeper historical dive on the topic. We will save these assessments for another post at another time to keep things as straightforward as possible.

Influences Behind Pilates

Joseph Pilates was born in 1883 in Düsseldorf, Germany. As a child, he faced numerous health challenges, including asthma and rickets. His determination to improve his well-being led him on a quest for knowledge about physical fitness. Pilates became an avid student of various disciplines, such as boxing, gymnastics, and martial arts. These early experiences shaped the principles and practices of Pilates that we know today.

In the 1910s, Joseph moved to England, where story is told that he worked as a self-defense instructor and trained with the police. It was during this time that it is believed that he began to develop a system of exercises that he called Contrology by combining mindful movement, alignment, and flexibility--inspired by yoga and the natural movement of animals. These exercises are suspected to have helped injured soldiers regain strength and mobility during World War I while Pilates spent time in an internment camp.

The Evolution of the Pilates Method

After the war, Joseph Pilates immigrated to the United States in 1925, where he established a fitness studio in a New York City apartment with his “wife” Clara named the Art of Contrology. While his method became popular with dancers (his apartment and fitness studio was in the same building and the New York City Ballet at the time,) it was not widely popular like it is today.

Joseph’s Pilates recognized that many had trouble doing his mat exercises correctly so he invented the equipment that he had in his studio to help his clients. Pilates (then Contrology) looked much different in Joseph’s studio than it looks today. Clients would drop in and pay cash to do their own workouts while Joseph monitored from a perch and Clara roamed the studio for correction. Each student had their own series of exercises that were prescribed to them from Joseph Pilates based on what their body needed.

Joseph Pilates wanted his method to be taught to everyone and that it could be universally beneficial. He published two books, "Your Health" (1934) and “Return to Life Through Contrology,” (1945), highlighting the core concepts of his training. He was even known to write to the media, President Hoover, and President Kennedy to help spread the word about this ideologies.

Joseph Pilates died of complications from emphysema in 1967 at the age of 83. There are various accounts about the circumstances of his death, but emphysema, a lung condition often caused by prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke, is widely recognized as the primary cause.

After his death, a group of individuals known as the Pilates Elders, who learned Contrology from Joseph Pilates, continued to expand his method widely across the United States. Contrology became known as Pilates after his death. The elders went on to train the next generation of Pilates instructors, and the passing of knowledge continued through generation to generation. Today, Pilates has become a mainstream fitness trend, with various styles and approaches tailored to meet the needs of a diverse population.

From its humble beginnings to its position as a well-respected fitness practice, Pilates has certainly come a long way. Thanks to Joseph Pilates' vision and commitment, millions around the globe now enjoy the benefits of this transformative workout.