Joseph H. Pilates (1883 -1967)FOUNDER OF THE PILATES METHOD AND THE INVENTOR OF ITS EXERCISE EQUIPMENT
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In Germany
Joseph Hubertus Pilates was born to a very poor family on December 9th, 1883 in Mönchengladbach Germany. His father, a native of Greece, worked as a metal worker at the local textile factories and was also a prize-winning gymnast, while his German-born mother was a naturopath who believed in the principle of stimulating the body to heal itself without artificial drugs. No doubt his mother's healing philosophy and father's physical achievements greatly influenced Pilates' later ideas on therapeutic exercise.
The second of eight children, Joseph was not a strong child. He was afflicted with asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever, and was continually taunted by the bigger children. He quickly became determined to overcome his physical disadvantages. During time spend in the countryside, Joseph observed the movements of the animals. An old anatomy book was given to the 12-year-old by the doctor who ministered to his baby sister Gertrud prior to her death. Through this he could explore the workings of the body.
By adolescence, Joseph Pilates had changed from a weakling child to a strong young man. At the age of 14 he was posing as a model for anatomy charts. He was also an accomplished boxer, skier, and diver.
As a young adult he worked as a brewer living with his first wife and their family, - until tragedy struck. In 1913 his wife Maria died. By early 1914, the now widowed Joseph had moved to England. He put his boxing skills to work both in the ring and teaching, London being a centre for the sport, and teaching “body building” to the London police and “the art of self-defence” to detectives.
In England ( Life in internment camps)
However, as “Germanophobia” grew in the build up to World War 1, it became difficult for Germans to find more conventional work. He managed to find work as a performer in a circus where he was caught traveling in England when WW 1 broke out in 1914. Joseph, who was 30 years old at that time, was amongst the very early arrests, possibly because of being so new to England and his lack of English. He and other German nationals were interned as an enemy alien in Lancaster, England.
Here he taught internees the concepts and exercises developed over 20 years of self-study and apprenticeship in yoga, Zen, and ancient Greek and Roman physical regimens. It was at this time that he began devising the system of original exercises known today as "matwork," or exercises done on the floor. He called this regimen "Contrology," meaning 'the science of control'.
A few years later, he was transferred to Camp 4 of Knockaloe Internment Camp on the Isle of Man. The health conditions in the internment camps were not great. Some found the experience physically depriving and mentally stressful, others were able to maintain both their physical and mental well-being by utilizing the internment time as an opportunity to better themselves by studying or learning skills in readiness for their eventual release. Joseph was one of those.
However, as “Germanophobia” grew in the build up to World War 1, it became difficult for Germans to find more conventional work. He managed to find work as a performer in a circus where he was caught traveling in England when WW 1 broke out in 1914. Joseph, who was 30 years old at that time, was amongst the very early arrests, possibly because of being so new to England and his lack of English. He and other German nationals were interned as an enemy alien in Lancaster, England.
Here he taught internees the concepts and exercises developed over 20 years of self-study and apprenticeship in yoga, Zen, and ancient Greek and Roman physical regimens. It was at this time that he began devising the system of original exercises known today as "matwork," or exercises done on the floor. He called this regimen "Contrology," meaning 'the science of control'.
A few years later, he was transferred to Camp 4 of Knockaloe Internment Camp on the Isle of Man. The health conditions in the internment camps were not great. Some found the experience physically depriving and mentally stressful, others were able to maintain both their physical and mental well-being by utilizing the internment time as an opportunity to better themselves by studying or learning skills in readiness for their eventual release. Joseph was one of those.
Joseph became a nurse and caretaker to the many internees struck with disease and physical injury. In the camp he began devising equipment to rehabilitate his "patients", taking springs from the beds and rigging them to the bedposts to create spring resistance devices to train correct "movement" to the bedridden.
He had three and a half years with the opportunity to read the thousands of books in the Camp 4 library to further his knowledge of the anatomy and movements of humans and animals. His immediate aim was to help the many who were so desperate for relief from the problems of body and mind induced by the internment.
But crucially he had the opportunity and time to think. It appears clear now that, so much of the basis of what we know now as the Pilates methodology was developed during this time - in theory and practice.
In the USA
After the war Pilates returned to Germany, where he worked for a few years training police officers and collaborating with dancers and other experts in physical exercise such as Rudolf Laban, one of the pioneers of modern dance. In Hamburg he also trained police officers. But when he was pressured to train members of the new German army he left his native country. Disappointed with its political and social conditions, he emigrated to the United States in 1925 . On the ship to America, he met his future wife Clara.
In New York City the couple took over a boxing gym in Manhattan on Eighth Avenue at 56th Street where Joseph taught "Contrology". Contrology related to encouraging the use of the mind to control muscles, focusing attention on core postural muscles that help keep the body balanced and provide support for the spine. In particular, Pilates exercises teach awareness of breath and of alignment of the spine, and strengthen the deep torso and abdominal muscles.
Because of the location of his studio in close proximity to a number of dance studios and theatres, the couple soon had a devout following of local dancers and other performing artists who came regularly for training and rehabilitation. Well-known dancers and choreographers 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 Joseph for training and rehabilitation. His exercise regimen built flexibility, strength and stamina.
Joseph Pilates taught in New York from 1926 to 1966. During that time, he trained a number of students who not only applied his work to their own lives but became teachers of the Pilates method themselves. This first generation of teachers who trained directly with Joseph Pilates is often referred to as the Pilates Elders. Some committed themselves to passing along Joseph Pilates work exactly as he taught it. This approach is called “classical style” Pilates. Other students went on to integrate what they learned with their own research in anatomy and exercise sciences.
Joseph Pilates taught in New York from 1926 to 1966. During that time, he trained a number of students who not only applied his work to their own lives but became teachers of the Pilates method themselves. This first generation of teachers who trained directly with Joseph Pilates is often referred to as the Pilates Elders. Some committed themselves to passing along Joseph Pilates work exactly as he taught it. This approach is called “classical style” Pilates. Other students went on to integrate what they learned with their own research in anatomy and exercise sciences.
Joseph Pilates passed away October 9th, 1967 in New York City at the age of 84. He had maintained a fit physique throughout his life, and many photos show that he was in remarkable physical condition even in his older years. He is also said to have had a flamboyant personality, he smoked cigars, liked to party, and wore his exercise briefs wherever he wanted (even on the streets of New York). It is said that he was an intimidating, though and deeply committed instructor. Clara Pilates continued to teach and run the studio for another 10 years after Joseph Pilates death. Today, Joseph Pilates' legacy is carried on by the Pilates Elders, and by a large group of contemporary teachers.
First generation Pilates teachers, who knew Joe, maintain that he and Clara would be very happy and proud of the popularity and growth of Pilates. However, it is less clear how he might feel about the influx of "quickie trainings" available for would-be instructors wanting to be trained in a weekend or two. Joe worked at length with his own teachers, allowing them to assist and then finally teach after sometimes as long as 2 or 3 years of training and apprenticeship. He was quoted as saying, "Remember Rome was not built in a day.", and "Patience and persistence are vital qualities in the ultimate successful accomplishment of any worthwhile endeavor."
Information and photo credit:
http://www.knockaloe.im/profile_428812.html https://www.pilatesmethodalliance.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3277 http://www.easyvigour.net.nz/pilates/h_biography.htm https://www.verywell.com/joseph-pilates-founder-of-the-pilates-method-2704455 |
http://www.pilateslessons.org/joseph-pilates.html
http://pilatezenergy.com/?page_id=500 http://www.jillianhessel.com/pilates_biography.html www.thepilatesflow.com.sg http://truepilateslic.com http://www.relaxandrelease.co.uk/1953-joseph-pilates-teaching-anna-woolley-shaffer-vintage-rare-old-photo/ |