Joseph Pilates (1883-1967)
The mastermind behind this wonderful form of exercise is a man that his clients lovingly called “Uncle Joe”. Born in Germany, he moved to England to teach self-defense to Scotland Yard and refined his exercise techniques in an internment camp when he was considered an “enemy alien”. After he was released, he emigrated to the United States in 1926 from Germany and his New York City studio was frequented by injured professional ballerinas and the rich and famous. Thus began a strong connection between dance and Pilates. Lucky for us, the recent popularity of Pilates in exercise programs has pulled the form out of the elite and into the life of your everyday “Joe”.
