Joseph Hubertus Pilates was born in Dusseldorf in 1880. His sickly physique, asthma and rheumatic fever, from which he suffered led him to the discovery of a dynamic way to get over all his physical weaknesses. As a teenager he managed to develop his abilities in gymnastics and became an excellent diver and skier. At the same time he studied anatomy and posed for anatomy pictures while he was also studying eastern ways of training like yoga and martial arts. The Pilates Method is the combination of the eastern and western way of exercising, which himself called contrology. In

1912 Pilates went to England where he became a boxer and a circus performer. In 1914 after WWI broke out he was interned with other German nationals in a "camp" for enemy aliens in Lancaster. During that period he had the chance to apply his method to his fellow internees and so helped them keep their good physical condition during a terrible epidemic of influenza in 1918. After the end of WWI he returned to Germany.

In 1926, when the German government asked him to train the army forces he decided to emigrate to America. Along with his wife Clara, a nurse by profession, who met en route crossing the Atlantic, they opened their first Pilates Studio in new York. The method immediately attracted all the famous dancers and choreographers of his time, like Martha Graham, Rudolf von Laban, Hanya Holm, Georges Balanchine and many more. In years to come he gained many supporters of all ages, genders and physical ability, supporters whose lifestyle includes beauty and vivacity.

The Pilates Method trains the body from within, which means starting from the internal muscular groups towards the external ones so that the results last longer than those of the usual exercising. This way the person who is exercising acquires a better understanding of his body. The Classical Pilates emphasizes on the body's concentration and alignment, on the awareness and control of movement. It restores muscular balance, it is effective in achieving complete body toning and conditioning, helps the body posture in a right and harmless way, strengthens the back, improves the stamina, offers movement and flexibility, certitude and grace.

Pilates died in 1967 at the age of 87. His method is being used by dancers, actors, athletes and avid supporters of exercise.

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