History of Pilates
Pilates is a system of exercise and movement developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century. Origins (1883–1920s) Joseph Pilates was born in Germany in 1883. As a child, he reportedly suffered from asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever, which motivated him to study physical fitness, anatomy, and various exercise methods. He combined influences from gymnastics, boxing, martial arts, yoga, and animal movements to create his own training system, which he called Contrology —the art of controlling the body through the mind. Development During World War I During World War I , Pilates was interned in England as a German national. While working with injured soldiers, he attached springs to hospital beds to help patients exercise while lying down. These innovations later inspired Pilates equipment such as the Reformer . Move to the United States In 1926, Joseph Pilates emigrated to the United States with his wife, Clara Pilates . ...