Pilates was developed by German born Joseph Pilates, who believed mental and physical health were closely connected. His method was influenced by Western forms of exercise such as boxing, gymnastics and wrestling. This influence led to him creating “contrology’, a form of exercise that later became known as Pilates when Joseph passed away. 

 

We offer Pilates classes from our peaceful studio near Earlsfield. We are pleased to hold a range of Pilates classes, for a range of age and ability levels.

 

The Benefits of Pilates

 

Pilates is thought to have a range of benefits. Regular Pilates can improve posture, muscle tone, balance and joint mobility. It can also relieve stress and tension. There is some evidence that Pilates can provide pain relief to people who suffer with non-specific lower back pain.

 

Furthermore, as Pilates is a muscle strengthening exercise, it can help you maintain a healthy weight when combined with a healthy diet and aerobic exercise. Pilates classes vary, some are gentle and relaxed, others are more dynamic and will offer you a better workout if you are thinking of taking up Pilates to improve muscle tone.

 

If you have any questions about our Pilates classes give us a call or head to our studio near Earlsfield. Alternatively, if you want to know more about our Pilates teachers and their journeys, see here.

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Joseph Pilates

Joseph Pilates was born near Düsseldorf, Germany in 1883. Little is known about his early life, but he appears to have been a frail child, suffering from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever. His drive and determination to overcome these ailments led him to become a competent gymnast, diver and skier.  In 1912 Pilates lived in England working as a circus performer, boxer and self-defence instructor. During the First World War, he was interned with other German nationals. During this time he developed his technique of physical fitness further, by teaching his fellow internees. During the latter part of the War, he served as an orderly in a hospital on the Isle of Man where he worked with patients unable to walk. 

 

Pilates emigrated to the USA in the early 1920s with his wife Clara, and together they developed and taught the method in their ‘body-conditioning gym’ in New York in 1926. The studio featured much of the Apparatus designed to enhance his rehabilitation work and soon became very popular.  Through the writing of publications his method was passed on after his death in 1967 at the age of 83. During his lifetime this method of exercise was called Contrology. It was only after his death that it became known as the Pilates Method.

 

While Joseph is the man behind the method, it was his wife Clara that became the real teacher in the studio and was known to be the nurturing force behind the technique and Clara evolved and adapted the method to suit the individual needs of clients.