Pilates

The Developer of Pilates

Pilates was developed by German-born Joseph H. Pilates, who was a skier, boxer, dancer, and gymnast. Pilates developed an obsession with physical fitness, and during World War I, he designed exercise equipment to rehabilitate injured war victims. He opened his first studio in New York City, with his wife Clara, in 1926. Many of their clients were prominent dancers, including Martha Graham.

His method of exercise was called Contology until after his death, when it became known as the Pilates method. Clara Pilates was a trained nurse and is credited for incorporating his concepts to benefit more ill or injured clients. Romana Kryzanowska and Eve Gentry are two famous elders who popularized the benefits of this method for ordinary people.

The Pilates method emphasizes breathing with movement, body mechanics, balance, coordination, body positioning, spatial awareness, strength, and flexibility. Yoga shares similar goals with Pilates, placing emphasis on stretching and strengthening the muscles in a noncompetitive arena; however, unlike Yoga, Pilates works the body as a whole, coordinating upper and lower musculature with the body's core. It is this holistic approach that sets Pilates apart from many other forms of exercise.

Pilates views the muscles at the center of the body, including the abdomen, lower back, hips, and buttocks, as the “powerhouse.” Pilates exercises begin from this core and flow outward to the limbs. The original Pilates method included 34 exercises done on the floor on a padded mat. Pilates also invented several apparatuses, each of which has their own set of exercises. The most common apparatus is the “reformer, which has pulleys and cables that one can push or pull. The reformer enables the practitioner to stretch further and into positions unreachable on the mat alone.

Popular perceptions hold that Pilates is “just for women,” and Pilates during pregnancy has been claimed to be highly valuable and a beneficial form of exercise. However, practitioners argue that Pilates can be beneficial for almost anyone, regardless of age, gender, or fitness level.

Men have played an important role in the evolution of the Pilates method. Many women who were dancers choose teaching Pilates as a second career, making the exercise even more appealing to women. Practitioners argue that this may be why Pilates is increasingly associated with feminine characteristics.

Famous women who practice Pilates include Jennifer Aniston, Madonna, Vanessa Williams, Martha Stewart, Sigourney Weaver, and Martina Navratilova.