Pilates is a type of mind-body exercise that was developed in the early 20th century by German physical trainer Joseph Pilates1. Pilates called his method “Contrology” and it is practiced worldwide, especially in countries such as Australia, Canada, South Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom1. Pilates uses a combination of around 50 repetitive exercises to spur muscle exertion. Each exercise flows from the “five essentials”: breath, cervical alignment, rib and scapular stabilization, pelvic mobility, and utilization of the transverses abdomens1. Each exercise is typically repeated three to five times1.

 

Here is a brief history of Pilates in 10 parts:

  1. Early Life: Joseph Pilates was born in Mönchengladbach, Germany, in 1883. His father was a gymnast and his mother a naturopath1.
  2. Internment during WWI: During World War I, Pilates was interned in a camp on the Isle of Man. It was here that he began to develop his system of exercises1.
  3. Development of the Pilates Method: Pilates developed his method of exercise with the aim of strengthening the human mind and body, believing that mental and physical health were interrelated1.
  4. Contrology: Pilates called his method “Contrology” and it is based on the idea of using the mind to control the muscles1.
  5. The Five Essentials: The five essentials of Pilates are breath, cervical alignment, rib and scapular stabilization, pelvic mobility, and utilization of the transverses abdomens1.
  6. Apparatus: Pilates accompanied his method with a variety of equipment, which he called “apparatus”. Each apparatus was designed to help accelerate the process of stretching, strengthening, body alignment, and increased core strength started by mat work1.
  7. The Universal Reformer: The best-known and most popular apparatus today, the Reformer, was originally called the Universal Reformer, aptly named for "universally reforming the body"1.
  8. Other Apparatus: Pilates designed other apparatus, including the Cadillac, Wunda Chair, High “Electric” Chair, Spine Corrector, Ladder Barrel, and Pedi-Pole1.
  9. Books: Pilates published two books related to his training method: Your Health: A Corrective System of Exercising That Revolutionizes the Entire Field of Physical Education (1934) and Return to Life Through Contrology (1945)1.
  10. Legacy: Pilates’ method of exercise has continued to be practiced and developed by many people around the world, and it has been adapted for use in many different settings, including rehabilitation, sports training, and general fitness1.