What is Pilates?

and from where does it originate?

Pilates is a method of exercise developed over 80 years ago by the late Josef Hubertus Pilates. Born in Germany in 1880, he was afflicted by many illnesses as a child which inspired him to research on how to condition the body in order to improve his overall state of health. His strength of character and willpower allowed him to overcome his sickly childhood to become an athlete, excelling in gymnastics, body building, boxing and martial arts. Ultimately he devoted his life to creating a method of exercise to cover both physical and mental fitness.

The Pilates method, originally known as Contrology, was conceived during World War I in a British internment camp. Joseph strapped hooks and springs to a hospital bed so that he and other bedridden patients could exercise. The bed is now known as "The Cadillac".

Moving to America in 1920, he met his wife Claire and together they opened a studio in New York City. The clientele consisted mainly of dancers to whom he taught his innovative method of exercise so that they could achieve a perfect body under the control of the mind.

Josef said of his body conditioning method of exercise:
"You will feel better in ten sessions, look better in twenty and have a completely new body in thirty sessions"

Pilates is an emerging discipline within the fitness arena and is growing steadily as public awareness increases and its benefitits become more widely known.