ABOUT JOSEPH PILATES
Born in Germany in 1883, Joseph Pilates grew to be a circus performer, fitness trainer and a boxer.
The beginnings of what would eventually become his regimented exercise system, Contrology, started to take shape while he was interred as a prisoner of the allies during WW1. While encamped on the Isle of Man he led many of his fellow detainees through his exercise programs and at the end of the war his camp notably suffered far less death and illness than others around them.
Later he moved to New York city, where he opened an exercise studio next to his apartment where he taught his Contrology method. Over time the system grew to encompass more equipment/apparatus and was refined. Ultimately Joe developed Contrology into a system of exercises that challenged the body while offering it tailored exercises to help individuals with their specific physicals needs.
Joseph died in the late 1960's and his work has been kept alive and carried forward through a string of lineages and by the few teachers who extensively
trained
.