Unlocking the legacy of Joseph Pilates.
A Journey of Resilience and Innovation.
Joseph Pilates - The man behind the name.
Pilates on social media: Hollywood's fitness secret revealed
If you scroll through social media, the claims are clear: actresses like Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Vanessa Williams, and Sandra Bullock attribute their toned bodies to regular Pilates.
But who was the visionary behind this transformative exercise method? Let's dive into the extraordinary life of Joseph Pilates.
Fascinating Facts about Joseph Pilates
Joseph Pilates was born on 9 December 1880 in Monchengladbach, near Dusseldorf, Germany.
Early struggles and transformative journey
At a young age, like many other children of the times, he suffered from health issues. - History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates
It is said that when he was 5 years old he lost the sight of his left eye due to bullies throwing stones at him.
'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
Joseph and his brother began practicing boxing, self defense and gymnastics. He took personal responsibility for his own health and overcame weakness. - History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates
.
He spent time alone in the woods observing animals and how they naturally moved. - History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates
“This rich background provided him with the foundation, shaped by his experiences, to innovate a system that he developed throughout his life and other forms of exercises.”
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.
In 1914, the British authorities eventually brought him to an internment camp, along with other German citizens, for the remainder of the war. - History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates
The early years and transformative practices
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. - History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates
A hero amidst the influenza epidemic.
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
“After WWI and he was released, he returned to Germany and continued training people with the exercises he developed in the camp at his boxing gym.
It is at this point in Germany when we first see signs of his apparatus ideas, such as advertisements for The Universal Reformer, as well as his first patent filed- The Foot Corrector. ”
In time, he was pressured to train members of the German army and he instead decided, 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.
- History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates
They patented his pieces of exercise equipment, starting with what Joseph called, “The Universal Reformer.” - History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates
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.
Local dancers sought out Joseph Pilates to enhance their strength while preserving flexibility.
Clients would also work out on ‘The Barrel’, which were primarily used for spinal flexibility and extension.
The story behind Joe’s process of inventing the barrels is that he took an empty beer barrel and cut it in half, then covered it with upholstery.
This created a “hump,” for clients to arch their backs over or do a series of exercises on.
Which exercises they could do depended on the height and placement of the barrel. - History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates
After inventing The Barrel, he was left with the metal rings from around the beer barrels, and not wanting to leave anything to waste, he invented The Magic Circle.
The Magic Circle is a small piece of equipment that we use very often in pilates classes today.
Is the story behind the Barrel and the Magic Circle true? No one is totally sure. But it makes for a great story, which was yet another thing that Joe was a genius at creating. - History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates
Over the course of his career, Joseph Pilates developed over 500 exercises for the various pieces of equipment that he invented.
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. - History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates
His philosophy was that achieving good health means the whole body - body, mind, and spirit - must be addressed.
Ahead of his time, Pilates advocated for a holistic approach to well-being—a lifelong process of refinement. As he aptly put it, "Physical fitness is the first requisite to happiness."
Pilates was known for his distinctive teaching style—donned in tiny black or white shorts, smoking cigars, and sipping beer.
He passed away in 1967, leaving behind a legacy that transcends fitness.
After his death, Clara continued to run the gym, although she was going blind. Eventually, she asked one of their best students, Romana Kryzanowska, to carry on his work as he taught it.
Romana famously carried on Joe’s original method closer than any other student did, and taught hundreds of her own students who became certified pilates teachers, until 2013 when she passed away at age 90.
“Joseph Pilates was a genius and a true visionary.”
Today, there are thousands of pilates teachers worldwide and millions of people benefitting from the method every day.
- History of Pilates by Elaine Ewing, Rhinebeck Pilates
In our quest for accurate Pilates facts, we turn to the insights of Pilates Elders like Jay Grimes, Romana Kryzanowska, and Ron Fletcher.
Their firsthand accounts and unique perspectives offer a deeper understanding of the man behind the method.
For those seeking a treasure trove of Pilates history, Elaine Ewing's Pilates History Research Archive provides a fascinating collection of rare photographs, articles, and insights into Joseph Pilates and his enduring impact.
Explore the rich tapestry of Pilates and share your own discoveries about this pioneer of holistic well-being.
By understanding the history of Joseph Pilates and how the original Pilates Method principles were developed and by continually exploring his work, as a teacher I can truly pass on the full beauty of Pilates to my clients.