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What is Pilates?
THE HISTORY
Developed by its founder, Joseph H. Pilates in the early 20th century, Pilates is a unique and comprehensive fitness program. Its origins and influences lie in the various disciplines of yoga, dance, gymnastics, martial arts and weight training. When practiced regularly, the system of exercises (there are over 500) creates a strong, toned, supple body, enhances awareness of postural alignment and stabilization, and aids in developing efficient movement patterns throughout the whole body. Joseph Pilates encouraged uniform development in all of his students - the goal was not just change in musculature, it was an attempt to increase a person's overall health, the quality of his or her life. Through breath and whole body committment to increasing whole body health, Joseph Pilates aimed at assisting people in developing to the fullest extent of their physical, mental and spiritual potential.
Joseph Pilates began developing this system by exercising as a young child in order to heal himself from early childhood ailments such as asthma and rickets. He was so successful with this endeavour that he was posing for anatomical charts by the age of 14, and then worked with a traveling circus as a gymnast and boxer. While interned in England during World War I, he taught his fellow inmates his system of exercises in order to keep them all strong and fit - it worked, as none succumbed to the deadly influenza epidemic of 1918. Injured or sick inmates, even though bedridden, were also assisted in gaining and maintaining health by working out with the simple spring and pulley systems that Pilates had devised to be used while lying in their hospital beds.
By the time Pilates moved to New York, he had been a physical trainer for the Hamburg police department, and had been asked to train the Kaiser's army. As the story goes, this may have been instrumental in his decision to leave Europe for the USA. Once in New York, Pilates opened up a small gym where he taught "Contrology" exercises (it was named 'Pilates' by others later on) to many prominent artists, politicians and dancers, the latter being the people who carried on with his teachings, especially after his death. During his life he remained an innovator, always creating new devices to assist the teaching of the body. His wife, (they met and married on the boat over from Europe) was also very gifted as a teacher, some say perhaps even more able than her innovative husband. Many people who were privileged to work with Clara Pilates described her as a giving and intuitive teacher who was able to use her touch in order to draw a person into a deep awareness of how her or his body was moving and how it might change.
Since the time of the Pilates' death, there have been many teachers who have contributed their own strengths to the work. There are now several different "streams", or lineages, of Pilates, depending on which "elder teacher" (the original person who studied with Joe and or Clara) through whom the teachings have come down. There are also now many 2nd generation teachers who have been working with the system for many years and who have added their talents and expertise. As Pilates continues to grow in popularity, there are growing numbers of 'older' and 'younger' teachers and a wealth of knowledge out there to be tapped into.
It is our opinion that there is a truth to the Classical system of Pilates. We endeavour to pass on the knowledge of what the deepest intention needs to be in every exercise, using variations and modifications when necessary so that participants gain the most out of the experience. All of our teachers are encouraged to attend classes regularly, both inside and outside the studio, and to attend workshops and conferences whenever possible so that all are able to work with the technique as deeply and knowledgeably as possible. It is an incredible body of work and we endeavour to do it justice!