Who is Joseph Pilates?
Joseph Pilates was born in Dusseldorf, Germany, in 1880. He was a frail child who began at a very young age to improve his physical condition. He enjoyed sports such as diving, skiing, gymnastics, boxing, and wrestling. Yoga, Tai Chi, and Martial Arts were also among his physical activities. He worked very hard developing his body and by the age of 14, he was posing for anatomical charts.

In 1912, Pilates migrated to England where he was a circus performer and a trainer of martial arts to police detectives. At the outbreak of World War I, Pilates was placed in an internment camp because of his German nationality. There he developed a fitness program within the camp for his fellow trainees. In 1918, an influenzaepidemic killed thousands of people throughout Europe. None of the internees who worked with Joseph Pilates became ill.

After World War I, Joseph Pilates returned to his homeland where the German Kaiser instructed him to develop a fitness regimen for the German Army. He refused the offer and decided to migrate to the United States. In 1926, Joseph Pilates set sail to his new country. During the journey, Joe met Clara whom he eventually married. Pilates is said to have developed a series of rehabilitative exercises that relieved her arthritic pain. That same year, they opened their New York studio at 939 Eighth Avenue. The Pilates method soon became popular throughout the dance community. George Balanchine, Martha Graham, Jerome Robbins and Ted Shawn encouraged their dancers to follow the Pilates exercise program. During the summer from 1939 to 1951, Joe and Clara went to teach at Jacob's Pillow, a well-known dance camp in the Berkshire Mountains. The Pilates studio became the foremost fitness center of New York City, serving the rich and famous. Joe Pilates trained
clients at this location until the late 1960's.

In 1966, a fire damaged the New York studio. When Joe (at age 86) went to inspect the damage in a back storage room, the burnt floorboards gave way. Joe fell through the floor, but caught a beam and pulled himself out of danger.

At the age of 87, Joseph Pilates died. It was thought that his death was the result of smoke inhalation suffered during the fire. His wife Clara continued to train at the studio until 1971 when she turned the studio over to Romana Kryzanowska, a long
time student of Joe and Clara. Romana presently perpetuates the integrity of their original work by teaching worldwide workshops. Today the classical Pilates Method and exercises are used worldwide.