History

Born in Germany in 1880,Joseph H. Pilates first laid the foundations of his physical conditioning method in England during WWI. Determined that he and his fellow prisoners would emerge stronger than they had been before the war, he developed a series of exercises that even the most seriously injured could perform in their beds. Along with the birth of these “Mat” exercises, Joseph began to work with a system of resistance springs.

In 1920, Pilates immigrated to New York. It was here that he opened his first studio and began his life’s work of refining his conditioning system. The studio quickly became a centre for dancers and athletes alike; not only did they find that his exercises produced longer, stronger, more flexible muscles, but they found Pilates enhanced their performance by helping to achieve a maximum efficiency of movement with a minimum of stress or strain.