Joseph Pilates

Joseph Hubertus Pilates (1880 – 1967) was the inventor of the Pilates physical fitness method.

Related Topics:
1880 - 1967 - Pilates

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Born in Dusseldorf, of parents of Greek ancestry, Joseph suffered from asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever as a youth. To overcome the effects of poor health, he studied body building, diving, skiing, and gymnastics and developed a series of exercises.

Related Topics:
Dusseldorf - Greek - Asthma - Rickets - Rheumatic fever - Body building - Diving - Skiing - Gymnastics

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Pilates moved to England in 1912 and worked as a boxer, circus performer, and a self defense trainer of English detectives. When he was interned at a camp in Lancaster with other Germans as 'enemy aliens' during World War I, Pilates spent the time to further develop his exercise techniques.

Related Topics:
England - 1912 - Boxer - Circus - Self defense - Detective - Lancaster - World War I

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In 1926, he emigrated to New York and established a studio with his wife Clara teaching his exercises to dancers, including Martha Graham and George Balanchine, as well as actors and athletes. He also invented an exercise apparatus by attaching springs to hospital beds for immobilized patients.

Related Topics:
1926 - New York - Dance - Martha Graham - George Balanchine - Actor - Athlete

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He wrote several books and had a number of disciples who continued to teach variations of his method.

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