Joseph Pilates was born in Germany before moving to England and working as a circus performer and boxer, at the start of World War I he was placed in forced internment. While in the internment camp, he began to develop the floor exercises that evolved into what we now know as mat based Pilates.
After WWI Joseph Pilates briefly returned to Germany before setting sail for America, it was on that crossing he met Clara, a nurse who would later become his wife.
Living in New York Joseph and Clara Pilates set up the first ever Pilates studio with an array of Joseph’s exercise products like the reformer, cadillac, barrel and wunder chair.
This first generation of teachers who trained directly with Joseph Pilates are often called the elders, many committed themselves to pass along Joseph Pilates’s work exactly as he taught it. This approach is called “classical style” Pilates. As well as classical style Pilates has now evolved into many different styles to suit almost everyone.
The fact still remains, whatever type of Pilates class you go to Pilates is good for EVERY body.
