What is the Pilates Method? What do we know about Joseph Pilates

What is Pilates?
What is the Pilates Method?
“Pilates” is a method of exercise, created
by its founder Joseph Hubertus Pilates. Mr.
Pilates’ wife Clara Pilates also played an
important role in the development and
teaching of his exercise method.
What do we know about Joseph Pilates?
Mr. Pilates was born in town called Mönchengladbach, in Germany, on December 9, 1883.
He emigrated to the United States in 1926, settling in New York City where he lived until
his death in 1967 at the age of 83.
What did Mr. Pilates call his
exercise method?
Mr. Pilates called his method “corrective exercise”,
and later branded it “Contrology.” However, today
his method is known by his last name, “Pilates.”
Do you need any special equipment to practice Pilates?
No. Mr. Pilates’ exercise method can be performed on mats on the floor. However, his exercises are also
taught on special equipment that he designed. The most common Pilates equipment that you will find in a
Pilates studio today includes the Reformer, Trapeze Table, Ladder Barrel, and Wunda Chair.
Who practices Pilates today?
People from all walks of life practice Pilates. In addition, over the
last several years, athletes and celebrities have attributed their
success in part to the addition of Pilates to their exercise plan.
Did Mr. Pilates write any books?
Mr. Pilates wrote two books. Your Health, published
in 1934, and Return To Life, published in 1945.
Return To Life shows all of Mr. Pilates’ mat
exercises with photos and instructions about how
to perform the movements correctly.
Information prepared by the Pilates Method Alliance
LeBron James, Miami Heat, 2010-2014, basketball player
Misty May-Treanor, Olympic Volleyball Gold Medalist
Oprah Winfrey, global celebrity and opinion former
Kris Humphries, Brooklyn Nets, basketball player
Kerry Walsh, Olympic Volleyball Gold Medalist
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat, basketball player
Maria Sharapova, tennis player
www.pilatesmethodalliance.org