Joseph Pilates
Joseph Hubertus Pilates | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | 9 October 1967 New York City, U.S. | (aged 83)
Known for | Developing pilates |
Joseph Hubertus Pilates (9 December 1883 – 9 October 1967) was a German-born
Biography
Early life
Joseph Hubertus Pilates was born on 9 December 1883 in
Pilates was a sickly child. He suffered from
Early boxing, circus and self-defense trainer career
Pilates was originally a gymnast and bodybuilder, but when he moved to England in 1912, he earned a living as a professional boxer, a circus-performer, and a self-defense trainer at police schools and Scotland Yard.[7]
Internment during World War I
During
After World War I, Pilates returned to Germany and collaborated with important experts in dance and physical exercise such as
Move to the US and marriage
Around 1925, Pilates immigrated to the United States.[12] On the ship to America, he met his future wife Clara. The couple founded a studio in New York City and directly taught and supervised their students well into the 1960s.
Joseph and Clara Pilates soon established a devoted following in the local dance and performing-arts community of New York. Well-known dancers such as George Balanchine, who arrived in the United States in 1933, and Martha Graham, who had come to New York in 1923, became devotees and regularly sent their students to the Pilates for training and rehabilitation. His exercise regimen built flexibility, strength and stamina. Soon after it became known that ballerinas were attending the Pilates gym on 8th Avenue, society women followed.[citation needed]
Joseph Pilates wrote several books, including Return to Life through Contrology and Your Health, and he was also a prolific inventor, with over 26 patents cited.[13]
Pilates continued to advocate for and teach his method well into his old age, even once he was physically incapable of performing the exercises himself.[14]
Death
Pilates died in New York City in 1967 of advanced emphysema at the age of 83.[15]
Books
- Your Health by Joseph H. Pilates (1934)
- Return to Life Through Contrology by Joseph H. Pilates and William J. Miller (1945)
- Joseph Hubertus Pilates; William John Miller (1960). Return to Life Through Contrology. Christopher Pub. House. Reprint of 1945 book
- "The Pilates Pamphlet: Return to Life Through Contrology" by Joseph H. Pilates and Frederick Rand Rogers (1957)
In popular culture
- Joseph Pilates is the subject of the 2013 documentary film A Movement of Movement made by Mark Pedri.
References
- ^ "About Joseph Pilates - Art of Control". 13 October 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ "Pilates Origins". Pilates.
- ^ Eva Rincke, Joseph Pilates, p.14-17.
- ^ "Joseph H. Pilates | Biography". Archived from the original on 25 March 2006.
- ^ Rincke, Eva (26 August 2015). "Gymnastic Roots". Joseph Pilates. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ Blyth, Lorne (28 June 2016). "Joseph Pilates: The History & Philosophy Behind His Exercise". Flavours Holidays. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ "Biography of Joseph Pilates, Exercise Pioneer". Verywell Fit. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ "The Acrobatic Immigrant Who Invented Pilates in a Prisoner of War Camp".
- ^ "Pilates inventor honoured with giant class at Manx WW1 internment camp". BBC News. 10 September 2016.
- ^ "41 Top Reasons Why Pilates is Good for Your Health". 29 April 2016.
- ^ "Wounded Warriors – Pilates for Veteran Soldiers". 1 November 2019.
- ^ "Joseph Pilates, Life and Biography". easyvigour.net.nz.
- ^ "FPO IP Research & Communities". freepatentsonline.com.
- ^ "The Acrobatic Immigrant Who Invented Pilates in a Prisoner of War Camp".
- ^ "Joseph Pilates, Life and Biography". easyvigour.net.nz. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
External links
- English-German blog of Pilates-biographer Eva Rincke in which she shares background information on her research on Joseph Pilates' life.