Pilates is a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century by Joseph H. Pilates. He became enamored by the classical Greek ideal of a man balanced in body, mind, and spirit, and he began to develop his own exercise system based on this concept.

As a child, Joseph had asthma and other ailments. Growing into adulthood, Joseph was no longer the sickly child he had once been as he became an avid skier, diver, gymnast, and boxer.

In 1912, Joseph went to England, where he worked as a self-defense instructor for detectives at Scotland Yard. At the outbreak of World War I, he was interned as an “enemy alien” with other German nationals. During his internment, he refined his ideas and trained other internees in his system of exercise. An influenza epidemic struck England in 1918, killing thousands of people, but not a single one of Joe’s trainees died.

In 1926, Joseph emigrated to the United States. He opened a fitness studio called “Contrology” in New York. It is practiced worldwide, in countries such as Europe, Australia, Japan, South America, and Asia. As of today, there are more than 600 studios in the United States.

In Joseph’s book Return to Life through Contrology, Joseph puts emphasis on alignment, breathing, developing a strong core, and improving coordination and balance.

Through Contrology, pilates is key to not only healthier body, but healthier lifestyle through mindful movement. Mind-body exercise like Pilates is activity that keys on the mental focus of the physical movements being performed. Pilates conditions the whole body, even body, mind, and spirit. It challenges us to increase the intensity as our body conditioning improves.

“Above all, learn how to breathe correctly.”

Joseph H. Pilates