Joseph Pilates was born in Germany in 1883. He was a lover of sports, and gymnastics, and during his time in England he worked as a circus performer and self defence instructor for Scotland Yard. He interned during WW1 and enjoyed teaching and sharing his innovative approach to fitness.

During this period in England he was working in a hospital and began to develop the idea of using springs on the hospital beds to help the patients with rehab and/or move their limbs. Later he developed his idea into a specialised Pilates apparatus that is used in many Pilates studios and/or physiotherapy clinics.

Joseph Pilates moved to the USA in the 1920’s where he met his wife, Clara, who helped him develop his ideas. Together they created the Pilates method, working with dancers and performers at their studio, in New York, helping them recover from injuries and improve their technique. He is renowned for working with Martha Graham and George Blanchine.

Joseph Pilates developed a large number of exercises and designed specialist equipment for the whole body to exercise and improve balance, stability, flexibility, posture, breathing, concentration, and eventually he completed a whole repertoire that can be modified to suit each individual.

Today, the quality of his work and apparatus is respected by training bodies Worldwide and by physiotherapists, osteopaths and health practitioners.