A Short Glimpse Into The History Of Pilates

To understand the power of Pilates in strengthening the body, it’s essential to take a quick look at the history of the exercise program. Unlike Yoga, which has been around for more than a thousand years, Pilates program came into existence in the 1920s when World War I was at its peak.

In 1880, a sickly baby was born in Dusseldorf, Germany. His name’s Joseph Pilates. Due to his ill-health, the young boy struggled to watch his friends as they enjoy different activities such as jumping and running. Though he could not participate because of his weak body, Joseph later conceived the idea of an exercise that could help strengthen his body.

 

With determination, Joseph decided to explore ways to improve his stamina and overall health. He set out on a lifetime journey to find appropriate exercise and fitness program. Not only did Joseph succeeded in his quest, but also mastered every exercise and fitness program. As he grew older, he became a successful gymnast, skier, boxer, and yogi. 

Joseph took an internship program during World War I and eventually became and worked as a female nurse, treating and attending to those who sustained injuries during the war. He firmly believed that special exercises could help rehabilitate even patients with the most damaged body. At this time, though most of his patients suffering from frail health could not walk with his program, his determination to help people gain strength and move around was unwavering.

Improvising the bed of war patients with springs and straps was part of his approach to making his exercise and training program work. He also created series of other strategies that focuses on helping patients to move their joint through different ranges of motion. These exercises are also gear toward developing muscle strength, flexibility, and endurance among sick persons. The exercise worked for most of Joseph’s patients as they were surprisingly able to walk around on without support.

Later, Joseph and his wife moved to New York City in 1923 where they launched a fitness studio geared towards rehabilitating injured dancer. Many famous dancers such as Martha Graham, George Balanchine, and others patronize the fitness studio. Since that time, the Pilates method became popular.

Later, the renowned Pilates method was widely accepted not only by dancers but also by professional athletes and icons in the entertainment industry. For many years, the Pilate program was only exclusive to the elite community; the rich and the famous was the only one enjoying the exercise program.

During the past decade, however, more and more people were able to benefit from the Pilates program. Fitness clubs and membership gyms started offering pilates classes and sessions. This helps a lot of people discovered the effectiveness of the program for gaining strength, flexibility, and body balance. Most were amazed as they do not have to spend much time in the gym.

Eventually, the Pilates program succeeded in helping many victims achieve desired results and became one of the hottest trends in the health and fitness industry.