Joseph Pilates, born in Germany in 1880, was a skinny and sickly child, who suffered from rickets, asthma as well as rheumatic fever. He became obsessed with restoring his own health and improving his body condition. During his lifetime he became an accomplished athlete, partaking in skiing, boxing, gymnastics, circus training, weight training and self-defence to overcome his fragility. These influences helped him to devise the method known today as ‘Pilates,’ which incorporates a perfect balance of strength and flexibility to build abdominal strength and body control. In his words the Pilates method, “develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong postures, restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit.”

Today, Pilates consists of original and evolved exercises done on a mat or on one of many pieces of equipment. Pilates still follows Joe’s original principles, which include: Concentration, Control, Breathing, Flow, Centering, and Precision. Exercises are designed for beginners, intermediate and advanced levels and can be developed depending on the individual need.

Joe’s physical fitness and general well-being continued well into his 70s, during which he continued to perform his ‘Pilates’ exercises.