Let's Get Physical
In the past few years, Pilates has become one of the most popular forms of exercise worldwide. Beloved for its low-impact, mind-focused workout, chic aesthetic, and broad appeal, it's easy to understand why it's so popular. In addition, Pilates has some really interesting history behind it, so let's get into that!
1. Pilates Is Named After Its Inventor
Joseph Pilates was born in Germany in 1883 to a health-conscious family. His father was a gymnast, while his mother was a housewife and aspiring naturopath. Both instilled the importance of healthy living into their son
2. Joseph Pilates Was A Sickly Child
In contrast to the health guru he became, Pilates was sickly and frail as a child. Among other ailments, he suffered from asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever. These illnesses encouraged Pilates to take up a Greek ideal of a healthy body-mind.
3. Pilates Was A Jack Of All Trades
Inspired by his father, Pilates took up gymnastics and body-building. Additionally, Pilates practiced jiu-jitsu and boxing. He believed that "modern" lifestyle lead to bad posture and inefficient breathing, which contributed to poor health.
4. Pilates Joined The Circus
Pilates immigrated to England in 1912, when he was 29. In England, he found work as a boxer, self-defense instructor for Scotland Yard, and circus trainer. Surprisingly, Pilates was not the circus's strongman, but, rather, one of their tumblers.
5. Pilates Blended East & West
Pilates practiced almost every form of exercise that was available to him. We've already mentioned him practicing martial arts, however, we also practiced yoga, tai chi, and meditation. In this way, he was one of the first Western figures to combine Western practices with Eastern Ideas.
6. Pilates Was An Enemy Alien
At the start of WWI, Pilates, along with other German nationals, was considered an enemy alien. He and his circus troop were interned for the duration of the war. Pilates was first interned in Lancashire, but was later moved to the Isle of Man.
7. Pilates Feared Stagnation
Being interned wasn't going to stop Pilates from being physically fit. Pilates developed a training regiment in the camps, not just for himself, but for his fellow inmates. This method was developed in part to aid in the rehabilitation of sick, injured, and disabled prisoners.
8. Pilates Was Inspired By Cats
In addition to his previous fitness studies, Pilates based many of the core movements of his training regiment on feline behavior. While the prisoners were weak of will and body, the scrawny cats of the island had the energy to chase mice and birds. Pilates concluded that consistent stretching gave the cats their agility and energy.
9. The First Reformer Was A Hospital Bed
Today, Pilates is practices in two main forms: mat and reformer Pilates. Unsurprisingly, the first reformer was created using the materials Pilates had on hand. By rigging springs to a hospital bed, Pilates allowed patients who were unable to leave the bed the ability to exercise.
10. Pilates (Allegedly) Prevented The Flu
In 1918, the Great Influenza pandemic took millions of lives across the globe, devastating a world that had spent the last 4 years at work. However, of the 2400 trainees under Pilates' supervision, not one sickened and died. Pilates attributed this to his exercise regime, but it was more likely good luck.
11. It Wasn't Originally Called Pilates
Pilates only became known by its contemporary name after its' inventor's lifetime. In his own words, Joseph Pilates called his regimen "Contrology". This name referred to the tandem use of mind and muscles to support the spine.
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12. Dancers Were Early Practitioners
After the war, Pilates returned to Germany, where he introduced his new technique. Pilates collaborated with Rudolf Laban, the father of modern dance. He also trained police officers in Hamburg, but left Germany after being asked to train the army.
AnonymousUnknown author on Wikimedia
13. The First Pilates Studio Opened in 1926
Pilates moved to America in 1926 and brought his technique with him to New York. He and his wife, Clara, set up a studio on Eighth Avenue in New York City. This studio just so happened to be next to the New York Ballet.
14. Ballerinas Flocked To The Studio
Understandably, because ballet is such a physically strenuous sport, ballet dancers face frequent injuries. Conveniently, "Uncle Joe" was next door to get them back on their feet. George Balanchine, the father of American ballet, invited Pilates to give instruction to his young dancers.
Ron Kroon / Anefo on Wikimedia
15. Modern Dancers Took Classes Too
Pilates never lost its connection with modern dance. Choreographer Martha Graham, whose school is the oldest in the country, also sent her dancers to Pilates when they needed a tune-up. The stretching and strengthening at the core of Pilates must have helped modern dancers make those clean lines
Alex Shukoff Nazareth College on Wikimedia
16. Celebrities Were Early Adopters Of Pilates
Just like today, Pilates was the exercise of the stars. Some of the Old Hollywood greats including Katharine Hepburn, Gregory Peck, and Sir Laurence Olivier tried Pilates. Despite these endorsements, Pilates saw little acceptance from the medical community.
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17. Joseph Pilates Patented Over 26 Machines
This should come as no surprise given the popularity of reformer Pilates, but Joseph Pilates was quite the inventor. He held patents for over 20 apparatuses he designed. Some of these apparatuses included the Cadillac, Wunda Chair and Spine Corrector.
18. Only Two People Were Certified To Carry On Pilates' Legacy
We wouldn't go so far as to say that Pilates was stingy in passing on his teachings, but he was definitely particular when choosing his protogees. In his lifetime, only two people were ever directly certified to train others: Kathy Stanford Grant and Lolita San Miguel.
Kateryna Smirnova on Wikimedia
19. Pilates Went Mainstream In The 90s
It took quite a while for Pilates to gain acceptance, both from the mainstream and from medical professionals. Finally, in the 1990s, it seemed that health gurus were all burnt out on weightlifting and lycra-clas aerobics. Pilates took off in the '90s, despite being the antithesis to conventional exercise.
20. Joseph Pilates Is Honored In His Hometown
Pilates' hometown of Mönchengladbach, Germany pays tribute to him in multiple ways. First, there's the annual Pilates Conference which started in 2013. Then, the city placed a plaque outside Pilates' birthplace reading
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