Happy Pilates Day!
Last summer, my father-in-law came over to help hang my historical photos of Joseph Pilates in the studio. While we were measuring and spacing out the photos, he commented “I didn’t know he was a real live person”. I found his comment fascinating, as it hadn’t occurred to me that to someone who had not yet been exposed to the Pilates method might think Pilates was just a name given to a set of core abdominal exercises, not named after the physical person who created the Method.
This Saturday is International Pilates Day, an annual event that occurs on the first Saturday in May. Celebrated worldwide, it is a day that brings the Pilates community together by honoring the man behind the Method, Joseph Pilates.
Here are Ten facts about Joseph Pilates that might be new to you!
Joseph Hubertus Pilates was born in December 9th, 1883 in Mönchengladbach (near Düsseldorf), Germany, and died on October 9th, 1967 in New York City.
As a child, he was quite sickly – and suffered from asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever. This led to his lifelong interest and pursuit of physical health.
Pilates was involved and interested in boxing, leading him to England in 1912. He was interned as an enemy alien on the Isle of Man when WWI broke out. It was in the internment camps where he began teaching the beginnings of “Contrology”.
He returned to Germany after the war, but emigrated to the United States, landing in New York in 1926.
Pilates met his wife Clara on the boat traveling to the United States. They opened their first studio together on 8th Avenue and 56th Street, and Clara continued teaching there for a number of years after Pilates passed away.
He called his method “Contrology”, and it was not until after his death that his method became known as “Pilates”.
Pilates wrote two books – “Your health” published in 1926, and “Return to Life”, published in 1945. Both are amazing reference materials in understanding the philosophy behind the method.
Pilates loved his beer – his first barrel was likely made from a beer keg, and the Magic Circle from the metal hoops from the beer keg. Talk about resourcefulness!
Some famous people that studied with Pilates included choreographers George Balanchine and Martha Graham, and renowned opera singer, Renata Peters.
Pilates actually only certified 2 teachers (and gave them teaching certificates) while he was living, Pilates elders Kathy Grant and Lolita San Miguel. It is amazing to think that Joseph Pilates began his teachings almost a hundred years ago, and interest and study of his Method continues to grow. It was his intention that his work would be recognized, and that all people would unite their minds, bodies and spirits by practicing Contrology exercises faithfully. He wrote:
“My work will be established, and when it is I will be the happiest man in God’s universe. My goal will have been reached.” (Your Health)
I think it is safe to say that his goal has been reached, and he would be a very happy man if he were still alive today. Let’s all raise a glass (of wine, or beverage of choice), on May 7th to Mr. Pilates!
xo, L
Note: In the Pilates world, there is some debate as to whether some of these details are in fact, true and correct. However, for simplicity, I chose to reference two books that include biographies of Joseph Pilates: The Women’s Health Big Book of Pilates by Brooke Siler, and The Pilates Method of Body Conditioning, by Sean Gallagher & Roman Kryzanowska, along with Jillian Hessel’s website, http://www.jillianhessel.com/pilates_biography.html
1, A Pilates’ Primer -The Millenium Edition: Return to Life Through Contrology and Your Health, Joseph Pilates, 1934. p.179.
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