The Inspiring History of Pilates: From Rehabilitation to Daily Practice

Pilates has become synonymous with core strength and graceful movement, but its beginnings are rooted in healing and resilience.

Who Was Joseph Pilates?

Born in Germany in 1883, Joseph Pilates was a frail child who struggled with asthma and rickets. Determined to overcome his physical limitations, he studied anatomy, yoga, boxing, and martial arts. His holistic approach to strength and resilience would eventually form the basis of his method, which he called Contrology.

During World War I, while interned in a camp for enemy aliens in the U.K., Pilates began refining his method to help injured and immobilized soldiers regain strength. He famously rigged springs to hospital beds, enabling patients to exercise in bed—laying the groundwork for what would become the Reformer, one of Pilates' most iconic pieces of equipment.

Pilates History: The Reformer and the Studio Evolution

After immigrating to New York City in the 1920s, Joseph and his wife Clara Pilates opened a studio near the New York City Ballet. Clara, a trained nurse, was not only instrumental in helping teach and refine the method but also brought a nurturing, intuitive quality to the work. Her gentle yet precise cues helped make Pilates more accessible to women and individuals with physical limitations.

Together, they attracted a devoted following—especially among dancers and performers—who valued the method's emphasis on control, alignment, and rehabilitation.

Mat Work: The Heart of Contrology

While the Reformer and other apparatus remain staples in Pilates studios today, Joseph strongly believed that mat work was the true foundation of health. He designed his original Return to Life Through Contrology mat sequence as a daily discipline, accessible to anyone with enough space for a mat and a willingness to move with intention.

Mat Pilates embodies everything he valued: control, breath, flow, and strength using one’s own bodyweight. It's also what makes outdoor Pilates—like our classes in Central Park—so true to his vision.

Pilates Today: A Global Movement Rooted in Purpose

From boutique studios to major fitness chains, Pilates has gone global. But at its core, it remains a deeply restorative, empowering practice rooted in balance and breath.