A History of Pilates

 The Pilates Method (originally called Contrology) originates from the work of the late Joseph Pilates, who was born in 1880 near Düsseldorf, Germany. He was a frail child and turned to physical fitness programmes to improve his body image. In the war years he was interned because of his nationality. During this time he developed a fitness programme for his fellow internees in order to maintain their health and fitness levels whilst being held in confinement – he always claimed that his regime was the reason why not one of these internees died from the influenza epidemic that killed thousands in 1918!

 He was asked to train the new German army, but declined and decided to emigrate to the United States of America. On the boat trip, he met a nursery teacher, Clara, whom he later married – and with whom he set up his first fitness studio in New York, at an address he shared with the New York City Ballet. 

 Pilates today is taught in several forms, directly reflecting the legacy of Joseph Pilates. He did not lay down a formal training programme, with the result that, on his death, his ‘disciples’ continued teaching by adding their own variations to the core philosophy and exercises. This flexibility in approach is one of the reasons why Pilates has been so successful over this time period. 

Body Control Pilates are proud to play our part in the realisation of Joe’s dream that Pilates would one day be available to everyone – and of our relationship with Mary Bowen, who trained directly with Joe and Clara Pilates and therefore provides an invaluable first-hand link back to the origins of the Pilates Method.  

Pilates will help you to find, understand and maintain better posture. You will learn how to breathe more efficiently and improve your core stability. Every movement is performed mindfully, with precision and control making it a very safe and effective way to exercise. This mindful approach can also help your mental wellbeing and can help you better cope with unwanted stress and tension. 

Body Control Pilates offers a comprehensive programme of exercises for both mat and apparatus work. They are adapted from the ‘classical’ exercises developed by Joseph Pilates. We believe that many of these classical exercises are often not suitable for the average person and the average body. In order for someone to work safely and effectively and to gain the full benefits of Pilates, these classical exercises should be broken down to establish good movement skills thus building the best possible foundation upon which to progress towards the classical, more advanced work. This is the essence of the Body Control Pilates Method.