|
Joseph Pilates ran an exercise studio in New York from the late 1920's to the 1960's. He wrote two books on his method and
some films of his work are available but otherwise his method has been passed down via apprenticeship training from teachers
who were themselves apprenticed to him.
Joseph Hubertus Pilates was born in 1888 near Dusseldorf in Germany. He was a sickly child, suffering from rickets, asthma
and rheumatic fever. Inspired by exercise regimens like gymnastics, boxing and wrestling, the young Pilates worked hard to
improve his health and fitness. He was so successful that at age 14, his muscles were so clearly defined he was posing for
anatomy charts. He eventually turned to professional boxing and taught self defence. His interest and work in the exercise
field led him to study yoga, karate, Zen meditation and Greco-Roman wrestling.
In 1912, 32 year old Pilates went to England where worked as a boxer, circus performer and self defence instructor. After
the outbreak of WWI, he was interned as an enemy alien on the Isle of Wight. During this internment Pilates refined his ideas
about body development and encouraged other internees to participate in his programme of conditioning exercises performed
on a mat. It is reported that during the influenza pandemic of 1918, no one in Pilates' camp lost their lives to the disease.
This was considered very unusual as causalities due to the virus were extraordinarily high. Remember this was before the discovery
of antibiotics.
Towards the end of WW1, Joseph was transferred to the Isle of Man where he applied his knowledge to help rehabilitate
the war injured. It was here he began experimenting with ways to help patients exercise while still bed bound. He attached
springs to bed posts to allow patients to exercise with resistance and recover muscle tone more quickly. These experiments
eventually led to the development of the 'Cadillac', a four poster bed with various springs and attachments and the 'Universal
Reformer' a sliding platform with springs on which the patient/client lies down, sits or stands. The removal of the fight
against gravity in the supine position allows tension to be regulated and the spine and pelvis to be aligned. He expanded
his work to include various other pieces of apparatus, which in turn inspired additional mat exercises.
After the war Pilates returned to Hamburg, however his success as a self defence instructor attracted the attention of
the German army and he migrated to America in 1926. On the boat to America, Pilates met his future wife Clara, a nurse, who
would help him with his work in his studio. Pilates established his studio in New York above a Dance School just before the
Great Depression. He named his method "Contrology" and wrote a book called 'YOUR HEALTH' here he outlined his philosophy
and ideas about good health, correct posture and how to achieve it.
Although Pilates had experience with strength and fitness training, gymnastics, boxing and self defence, ultimately it
was the dance community who worked with him most enthusiastically. People like Ted Shawn and Ruth St Denis who founded the
Denis-Shawn Dance Company, Dancers and chorographers like Ron Fletcher, Hanya Holm, Martha Graham and George Ballanchine became
clients and recommended him.
By the end of the 1940's, Joseph had developed a significant clientele among dancers using the Pilates Method to return
to the stage after back and leg injuries.
Pilates second book 'Return to Life Through Contrology', was written with W.J. Miller and sets out the development of
his Philosophy and a list of his original exercises to follow and practice at home.
Joseph was extremely possessive of his method of exercise and only taught those assistants he'd determined worthy by apprenticeship.
People like Ron Fletcher and Carola Trier moved away and opened their own studios. His later assistant, Romana Kryzanowski
stayed with him and Clara. Another early apprentice, Eve Gentry moved away to pursue dance, then returned to the method, bringing
with her clearly organized, gentle mat exercises called Pre-Pilates. Eve is also famous in Pilate's circles as being fully
rehabilitated by Joseph Pilates after a radical mastectomy to remove breast cancer from her body. With Joseph's method, Eve
restored full mobility and function to her upper body.
By the time Pilates died in 1967, a number of studios based on his method had been opened, catering to its extensive following
in the American dance world. Joseph and Clara worked side by side in his studio and she continued his work until her own death
in 1977. Clara was known to say that Joseph was 50 years ahead of his time, and eventually, the rest of the world would come
to recognize him and his philosophies. Neither Joseph nor Clara profited from his method. They both died relatively poor,
however his method has gained such popularity recently that it is now accepted worldwide as a therapeutic exercise modality.
Dancers, athletes and the general public, though not always understanding of the original philosophies, traditions and methods,
are using the method extensively for general fitness and post-acute rehabilitation.
 |
|
