“Pilates” was developed by Joseph Pilates, born in 1880 in Germany. His father was a gymnast and his mother a naturopath. Joseph was very ill as a child (asthma, sunken chest, physical limitations). As he became a young man he made it his goal to overcome these weaknesses.  His plan was to strengthen and rehabilitate his body through physical fitness and muscular conditioning. He practiced many of the physical training regimens available in Germany and began to develop his own method.

In early 1912 Joseph left Germany to train as a professional boxer in England in addition to working as a circus performer and teaching self-defense to Scotland Yard detectives. During WWI he was imprisoned in an England internment camp for German nationals. While there he began rehabilitating injured soldiers. He positioned springs above hospital beds to create resistance.  This allowed patients to exercise while laying on their back recuperating rather than growing weak from inactivity.  

He returned to Germany quickly deciding to move to America. During his trip to America in 1923 he met his wife, Clara.  The couple established his first studio in New York which became very successful and he began to think about his method on a larger scale.  He named his method “Contrology” as he said it develops the body uniformly, corrects posture, restores physical vitality, and invigorates the mind and spirit.  Later the practice of “Contrology” became known as “Pilates”.

From his experience and research he found there was a clear connection between physical and mental health so he developed this system of exercises and equipment (apparatus) intended to strengthen the human body and mind.