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Joe Bits and Pieces!
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Did you know that
many of the exercises developed by Joseph Pilates were designed around a
flat back because his back was flat and he felt that a perfectly flat
back was the ultimate goal. However new knowledge about the spine
indicates that this is not necessarily true, so many of Pilates'
exercises need to be modified for people with a natural curve in their
lumbar spine.
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Joseph
Pilates
 Joseph Hubertus Pilates was born near Düsseldorf,
Germany in 1880. His father was an award winning gymnast and his mother was
a naturopath, thus he was exposed to the world of alternative wellness and
fitness early in his life. As a child Pilates suffered from asthma, rickets
and rheumatic fever, however he displayed exceptional determination and
drive to overcome his physical ailments by becoming an accomplished skier,
diver and gymnast. He also researched and trained in Eastern and Western
forms of movement, including Yoga, ancient Grecian and Roman regimens and
their relation to the intricate anatomical system. Pilates was so absorbed
with physical well being that he transformed his body to the point where he
claims that he was posing for anatomical charts by early adolescence. The
fusion of his early movement studies resulted in the development of
Contrology (what is now known as Pilates).
"When all your muscles are properly developed, you
will, as a matter of course, perform your work with minimum effort and
maximum pleasure."
J. H. Pilates
Around
1912, Pilates moved to England. (It is disputed whether he went there to
pursue boxing, or to perform with a circus ensemble.) While in England, WWI
began and Pilates along with other German nationals was held prisoner for a
year in Lancaster. During his internment he taught self-defense techniques
and early principles of Contrology to fellow detainees. Pilates also
encountered many who were disabled as a result of the circumstances of war,
and devised machines from beds utilizing the addition of springs, pulleys
and straps to assist in their rehabilitation. These machines allowed his
patients to exercise while lying down, which stabilized them while still
allowing for a re-establishment of muscular integrity within their full
range of motion. These machines were the prototypes for the apparatus used
in Pilates today.
After
the war, Pilates returned to Germany. There, he trained the Hamburg City
Police in his method and continued his work. At this time he also
collaborated with Rudolf von Laban, choreographer and creator of Labanotation (a comprehensive system of analyzing
movement). He was asked by the Government to train the new German army, but
did not agree with their ideals, so he decided to move to America. Along
the way, he met his wife Clara, who agreed with Pilates’ philosophies of
health and fitness. Upon their arrival in New York City, in 1926, they decided
to open a studio and dedicate their lives to the method Joseph had been
perfecting.
 Their studio, located on Eighth Avenue in New York
City in the same building as some reputable dance companies, caught the
attention of the dance community and Contrology began to permeate their
training. Some of the more notable Pilates enthusiasts included legends
such as Hanya Holm, Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn, Martha Graham (famed pioneer
of Modern Dance), and George Balanchine (Balanchine along with Kirstein
founded the New York City Ballet and was one of the most prolific
choreographers in ballet history). They have all practiced and taught
Pilates to their students. From this surge of popularity, Pilates’ studio
soon grew to be a legendary fitness studio attracting New York’s most
affluent and prominent populace. Joseph Pilates taught in his New York
studio through the early 1960’s.
In
1966 a fire erupted in a back room of the Eighth Avenue Studio where Joe
rented out storage space. Pilates was said to have been in the building at
the time of the fire but it was during an inspection of the damages caused
by the fire that Joe almost fell through the floor. At 86 years of age Joe
was forced to hang from rafters for an extended period time before he was
able to pull himself to safety.
Joseph
Pilates died one year later, in 1967, at the age of 87. It has been
reported that inhalation of smoke from the previous years’ fire may have
been a major contributor to his death.
Clara
continued to teach Contrology for the next decade. In 1977 the operation of
the studio was taken over by one of Pilates' students, Romana Kryzanowska.
Although
Romana (founder of Pilates Inc., along with Sean P. Gallagher) took over
the original Pilates studio it is important to note here that there are
other direct descendants of the Pilates Method. Ron Fletcher, Kathy Grant,
Eve Gentry and Corola Trier, to name a few, have also studied directly
under Joseph and each have, in turn, developed their own studios, training
centers and philosophies on Pilates’ life work.
Through
this lineage there are many options now available for self-education in
Pilates. It is recommended however, that you first consult a certified
Pilates Instructor to ensure safety and results.
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