THE WHITE-MANED LION

 The variety and versatility of Pilates is quite remarkable.  How many exercise machines in today’s gyms can accommodation hundreds of exercises on a single piece of equipment the size of a twin bed?  With just a mat and a few simple props, over a hundred exercises including modifications can be done.  The Wunda Chair can double as a small side chair and when flipped on its back becomes a gymnasium with two bedsprings.   Joseph Pilates’ method was a well-kept secret until discovered by Marth Graham (mother of modern dance), George Balanchine (artistic director of the New York City Ballet) and Rudolf von Laban (founder of Labanotation – system of analyzing and recording human movement). 

Many dancers, prize fighters, actors, actresses and travelling circus performers embraced his methods.  Both for the total body conditioning needed for their careers and for the rehabilitative nature of his methods for injuries incurred from their careers. 

Joseph Pilates published the book Return to Life through Contrology in 1945 which describes his philosophical approach to exercise.   In time some of Joseph Pilates’ students opened up studios of their own, some adding their own style or interpretation to Joseph’s methods.  The five that made up the first generation of teachers were Romana Kryzanowska, Kathy Grant, Carola Trier, Eve Gentry and Ron Fletcher.  They are referred to as the ‘elders’ of Pilates.   Each of these Pilates elders was dancers who came to Joseph Pilates to be rehabilitated from an injury that would have otherwise ended their careers.  Since each studied under Joseph Pilates at a different time during his career, each has a different perspective on the Pilates method and brings a different school and thought behind the Pilates method to the public. Slowly the word and work of Joseph Pilates spread.

It wasn’t until the 1990’s that Pilates really hit the big time.  As baby boomers started seeing gentler means to health and wellness, the mind body fitness movement took off. As a result, more ancient techniques of fitness such as yoga and tai chi re-emerged.  Pilates soon followed suit.

While Joseph Pilates was the outspoken force behind Pilates his wife Clara Pilates was a silent but strong force for his method.  As a trained nurse Clara quietly incorporated his concepts and exercises in ways that benefited more seriously ill or injured clients.  She had an approachable style and special techniques that gave birth to a line of teachers spreading the word of Pilates. It is perhaps due to Clara Pilates that Pilates is recognized as a positive form of exercise that can be tailored to any level of fitness and health.  Clara was a gifted teacher who was said to have the ability to “look right through you” and worked at the studio until 1971.  At which time she passed the running of the studio on to student, teacher and friend Romana Kryzanowska.  Clara Pilates passed away in 1977. 

In 1967, in the New York Times, Joseph Pilates’ obituary read like an advertisement for his methods.  Joseph Pilates was described as a white-maned lion with steel blue eyes (one was glass from a boxing mishap), mahogany skin, and as limber in his 80’s as a teenager.