History of Pilates

http://www.pilates.com/history.html   

Joseph Pilates

In Germany
* born near Dusseldorf, Germany (1880)
* frail child, suffering from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever
* overcame his physical limitations with exercise and body building
* model for anatomical drawings (age 14)
* accomplished in many sports (incl.skiing, diving and gymnastics)

In England
* self-defense instructor for detectives at Scotland Yard (1912)
* WW1: interned as an "enemy alien" with other German nationals

During his internment
*refined his ideas and trained other internees

The Pilates System begins

* rigged springs to hospital beds, enabling bedridden patients to exercise against resistance

Influenza epidemic (England 1918)
* thousands dead but not a single one of Joe's trainees died

This, he claimed, testified to the effectiveness of his system.

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Returns to Germany

* released, returns to Germany

Dancers adopt Pilates method

* Rudolf von Laban: seen in his dance

* Hanya Holm: "Holm Technique"

Emigrates to United States

* asked to teach his fitness sytem to German Army, decides to leave Germany for good

* emigrates to the United States (1926)

* meets his future wife Clara on voyage

* Joseph & Clara open fitness studio in NY, same address as New York City Ballet

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Clients (early 1960s)

* many New York dancers

* young ballerinas at the New York City Ballet

Two pilates students open pilates studios

*Carola Trier (late 1950s): former dancer & contortionist

*Bob Seed: former hockey player, tried to steal Joseph's client, and left town

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* Eve Gentry: dancer, teacher at Pilates Studio in NY (1938-68) & at NY University's Theater Department (early 1960s), opens studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico

* Bruce King: dancer, opens pilates studio at 160 W. 73rd Street in NY

* Mary Bowen: Jungian analyst, pilates teacher, founder of "Your Own Gym" in Northampton, Massachusetts

* Robert Fitzerald: opens his studio on West 56th Street in the 60s, large clientele from the dance community

(see link in first post for more info on these people)

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* Hollywood celebrities discovers Pilates at Ron Fletcher' studio (1970s)

* Media covers Pilates (late 1980s)

* Pilates becomes mainstream: 5 million+ Americans practice pilates today

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http://www.pilates-studio.com/

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