Joseph Pilates was a German born American who originally developed what he called ‘Contrology’ in the early 20th Century.
During WW1, while in England training as a boxer, he was placed in an internment camp where he began developing exercises for injured soldiers. Joseph attached springs to their beds enabling them to work against a resistance. This simulated functional movements which corrected muscle imbalances and weaknesses and quickly restored the soldiers to good health.
Joseph Pilates was an eccentric character but a true visionary. He understood the connection between the mind and physical body, recognising the importance of mind and breath to help facilitate correct muscle recruitment – effectively working the body smarter, not harder. As a result, Joseph’s training philosophy has changed rehabilitation and body conditioning workouts around the world. The reason? It works. It works for people of all ages, sex and health status.
“The goal of Contrology (Pilates Method) is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind and the ability to perform life’s daily activities with zest and ease” Joseph Pilates