A Brief History
Joseph Pilates was born in Germany in 1880. He was a sickly child, plagued with asthma, rheumatic fever and rickets. His drive to overcome his ailments motivated him to study Eastern and Western philosophies and different forms of exercise. It was these regimes that led him to the development of his brilliant work, known today as The Pilates Method. Over the course of his career Pilates developed more than 600 exercises for the various pieces of apparatus he invented. His philosophy was, that to achieve good health, the whole being: mind, body and spirit, must be addressed. In his book, Return to Life Through Contrology, he wrote, “Physical fitness is the first requisite to happiness. Our interpretation of physical fitness is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind fully capable of naturally, easily, and satisfactorily performing our many and varied daily tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure.”

What is “Pilates”?
The Pilates Approach is an exercise program that helps to:
• Increase lung capacity and circulation through deep, healthy breathing patterns
• Increase strength and flexibility
• Improve posture, balance and core strength
• Improve bone density and joint health
• Coordinate body, mind and spirit. (These are key components in an effective Pilates Program.)

Many who practice the ‘Pilates Method’ perceive a positive physical experience for the very first time. Needless to say, this has strong and healthy implications for every other area of life.