Unveiling the legacy: 9 Intriguing facts about Joe Pilates.

Today’s is Joe Pilates' birthday and to honour him here are 9 intriguing facts about Joe Pilates, the man behind the mat.

Fact 1 -

Joseph Pilates was born on 9 December 1883 in Monchengladbach, Germany.

His father, Heinrich Friedrich Pilates, who was born in Greece, was a metal worker and enthusiastic gymnast, and his German-born mother was a housewife.

.

"Few facts are known about his young life, though what we do know is very interesting and influential on his method that he would go on to teach, invent, and passionately promote for the rest of his life." - History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates

Fact 2 -

"At a young age, like many other children of the times, he (Joseph Pilates) suffered from health issues." History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates.

He suffered from asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever and he dedicated his entire life to improving his physical strength.

Fact 3 -

It is said that when Joe was 5 that he lost the vision in his left eye

due to a stone thrown by bullies.

Fact 4 -

“Joseph’s father was a gymnast, which had a great influence on encouraging him to take control of his health.” - History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates

Fact 5 -

"Joseph and his brother began practicing boxing, self defence and gymnastics. He took personal responsibility for his own health and overcame weakness.” - History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates

Fact 6 -

"As a young adult in during World War I, Joseph Pilates was living in England and making a living as a professional boxer, personal trainer, and even as a human statue in the circus." - History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates

Fact 7 -

“He spent time alone in the woods observing animals and how they naturally moved.” - History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates

Many of his exercises names have derived from animals like Seal, Crab or Cat curl in Mat Pilates and Snake, Elephant etc on the Reformer.

Fact 8 -

“In 1914, the British authorities eventually brought him to an internment camp, along with other German citizens, for the remainder of the war.

He saw how men at the camp could lose strength easily if they had nothing to keep them active.

He began to teach floor exercises (what would later become known as ‘The Mat Work’) to these men in an effort to keep up their strength and morale.

The exercises included abdominal work, leg and arm work, balancing exercises, and spinal movements in all planes: flexion, extension, side bending, and rotation, as they were based on the German gymnastics Joseph learned as a child.

It is said that these men survived the 1918 flu pandemic due to their good physical shape." - History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates

Fact 9 -

“At age 42, to emigrate to America, where he planned to further his career in physical fitness, open a gym, and apply for more patents.

It was on the ship to America that Joe met his future life partner, Clara.

Clara was a school teacher suffering from arthritis in her hands.

It is said that Joe gave her a few exercises to help her hands and she soon became pain free.

Sold on his technique, Clara joined him in New York City where they patented his pieces of exercise equipment, starting with what Joseph called, ‘The Universal Reformer.’

They opened up a gym together at 939 8th Avenue. The focus of the gym was boxing and “Contrology”- the name Joe gave to his exercise technique.

He continued to teach the mat work he had developed in the camp, and created additional, similar exercises on the Universal Reformer and the other apparatus he built and invented." - History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates

One way he tried to spread his method was by selling his equipment and charts to use along with it through a catalog for people to use at home.

The Wunda Chair, Spine Corrector, Bench Mat, and Massage Table are all examples of this.

The Junior Reformer is another piece of equipment that he tried to sell for home use.

Other than the apparatus listed above and previously in this article, Joe invented many other pieces of equipment, between additional exercise equipment (like the Ped-o-pul, The Gym-in-the-Door, The Toe Corrector, Finger Exerciser, Magic Square, and Tensometer, as well as furniture.

Today, we recognize nearly 500 exercises of Joseph Pilates.

Today, Pilates is taught by thousands of instructors and practiced by millions of people worldwide.

Joe Pilates passed away in 1967. Many so-called facts can be found on the internet. However, are they accurate?

The truth can only be found with Joe Pilates himself or from his original students, many of who then became Pilates instructors themselves, and are more affectionately known as the ‘Pilates Elders’ names like Jay Grimes, a dancer who studied with Joe and then Clara (Joe’s wife) when he passed away.

Here, Pilates instructor, Lesley Logan, a second-generation student from Jay Grimes, explains the journey of Pilates as we know it today.

He also studied with Romana Kryzanowska (1923-2013) and continues to teach as the director of Vintage Pilates. Other elders like Ron Fletcher (1921-2011) developed his own Pilates style known as Fletcher Work.

Other students like John Steele wrote the book Caged Lion, ‘The surprising story of Pilates—the man and the method.’ If you would like to listen to instructors interviewing John, click here, I know I was gobsmacked to hear John’s interview about the facts I know to believe to be true.

What I did in my search for Pilates facts was Elaine Ewing’s Pilates History Research Archive. If you are interested in the facts about Joe Pilates, do yourself a favour and look at Elaine’s many interesting topics and rare photographs of Joe Pilates and many others and newspaper articles about Joseph Pilates.

What facts about Joe do you know that you would like to share with us?

Resources:

https://www.rhinebeckpilates.com/pilates-history-research -

https://www.pilates.org.au/a-few-fun-facts-about-joseph-pilates/