Where did Pilates come from? – The Beginning

Throughout our newsletters we will be learning a bit about the history of Pilates, both the creator and the exercise, in each issue.    In this issue we will start at the beginning with Joseph Pilates. 

Joseph Pilates was born in Germany in 1880.  His father was a gymnast of Greek origin and his mother German and a naturopath.  Naturopaths believe in stimulating the body to heal itself.   His mother’s healing philosophy probably influenced his view on and approach to exercise as we will see.   In time Joseph came to believe that modern day life-style, poor posture and inefficient breathing were the root causes of poor health.  He decided to answer these problems with a series of physical exercises to enhance and help correct muscular imbalances thus improving posture, coordination, balance, strength, flexibility and increase breathing capacity and organ function.  In essence, restore the body to its original, healthy state.

Joseph, unlike his parents, was a sickly child.  He suffered from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever.  Older boys would taunt and tease him calling him names.  Because he was so skinny, sickly and weak he couldn’t fight back. All these factors combined motivated him to start, what would be his life’s journey, in fitness and health.

Joseph Pilates’ journey towards fitness and health started with a discarded anatomy book.  He learnt every page; moving each part of the body as he memorized it from the book.  His education of health and teaching continued involving lying in the woods for hours watching animals move and how the mother taught her young.  He studied all forms of exercise, yoga, Zen and ancient Greek and Roman exercise regimens.  By the time he was 14, he was modelling for anatomy charts. 

In Germany he had success as a boxer and gymnast as well as being a skilled skier and diver.  He furthered his training as a boxer in England.   He became a circus performer and by 1914 he was a star performer touring England with his troupe.   In 1914 after the war broke out him and other German nationalists were interned in a “camp” for enemy aliens in Lancaster.  It was during this time he developed a system of exercises that became known as “Contrology”.  It was later renamed and modified over the years by others into the varying styles all known as Pilates.

In the next issue we will have a look at the motivation behind the creation of the exercises and equipment used in Pilates.