History of Pilates

The Pilates method of exercise was created by Joseph Pilates, who was born in 1880 near Dusseldorf, Germany. Joe was frail as a child, suffering from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever. He overcame his physical limitations with exercise and body building, becoming a model for anatomical drawings at the age of 14. He became accomplished in many sports, including skiing, diving and gymnastics. Joe went to England in 1912, where he worked as a self-defense instructor for detectives at Scotland Yard. At the outbreak of World War I, Joe was interned as an "enemy alien" with other German nationals. During his internment, Joe refined his ideas and trained other internees in his system of exercise. He rigged springs to hospital beds, enabling bedridden patients to exercise against resistance, an innovation that led to his later equipment designs. An influenza epidemic struck England in 1918, killing thousands of people, but not a single one of Joe's trainees died. This, he claimed, testified to the effectiveness of his system.

Choosing a Pilates Instructor

The experience and certifications of Pilates instructors can vary immensely. We highly recommend you choose an instructor who is certified to teach Pilates. Certification may be obtained through a reputable training facility or school, and should include a number of apprenticeship hours, and testing prior to certification. Your potential instructor should be willing to discuss their training, experience and teaching methods.

Determine what your goals are, then choose an instructor who takes an active interest in your experience, expectations, limitations, and who will help you meet those goals.