Joseph Hubertus Pilates (1880 - 1967)
Joseph H. Pilates was born in Germany in 1880. A frail child who suffered from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever, he dedicated his entire life to becoming physically stronger. Joe began studying the human anatomy, bodybuilding and gymnastics and by the age of 14 was fit enough to pose for anatomical charts. He studied both Eastern and Western forms of exercise including Yoga and in 1912 he moved to England earning a living as a boxer, circus performer and self-defense trainer.

During World War I he was interned with other German citizens in a camp in Lancaster, England where he trained other inmates with his form of exercise. While interned, Joe became a nurse and physical therapist and was later transferred to another camp where he worked with internees who suffered from wartime diseases and incarceration. This is where he began devising equipment to rehabilitate them; taking springs from the beds and rigging them to create spring resistance and "movement" for the bedridden. It was here that the beginnings of the true Pilates Method began to take shape.

In 1926 Joe decided to move to America and en-route met Clara who was to become his wife. Upon arriving in New York City Joe and Clara opened a gym in the same building as several dance studios and rehearsal spaces. Combining smoothly controlled movements with concentration and breathing, the Pilates Method (then called Body Contrology) was immediately adopted by the dance community, especially by those who were recovering from injuries.

Joseph Pilates passed away in 1967, however, his dream remained alive and was carried on by some of his devoted long-term students including Ron Fletcher, a Martha Graham dancer who studied and consulted with Joe from the 1940's until his death. With the blessing of Clara Pilates, Fletcher opened the first Pilates studio outside of New York in 1970 in Los Angeles, and attracted many Hollywood stars. From there Pilates grew in popularity around the globe.

Joseph Pilates said, "Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness." His interpretation of physical fitness: "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."