When you hear the term Pilates, you probably have an idea of what it is. However, some people don’t know what it consists of but have a rough idea of what’s in it. So, how much do you know about Pilates? If you were asked to answer where Pilates comes from and get a chance to win a million, would you get it? If you have no idea what Pilates is and who invented them, you’re in luck. Below, you can find all you need to know about Pilates and more.
Origin
Pilates was invented by Joseph Pilates, a German-born émigré to Britain. This man devised Pilates as a way to exercise the body and also to condition it. This form of exercise was created in the early 1900s. During the invention of Pilates, he used all manner of equipment around him. He called these equipment apparatus. The most common of the equipment he used is the Pilates reformer. The reformer is used in the Pilates major studio today.
Development of Pilates
When the first world war broke out, Pilates was interned as a German enemy alien by the British. His time as an internee was used in developing a new approach to exercise the body while conditioning it. This was the start of what we commonly refer to as Pilates.
Also, during this time, he got a chance to work as a nurse, which allowed him to experiment by attaching springs to beds. This was done so that patients could start toning muscles even when bedridden. This was also the origin of the Pilates reformer. The reformer was shaped like a sliding bed in the early days, and the resistance was the springs. He then worked with Rudolph Laban, the creator of the basic system of dance notion, which is in use to date. These practices are being taught at schools around the world, including the Breathe Education system where hard working students are turning their dreams into a reality.
First Pilates Studio
It was in 1923, when Pilates moved to the US, that he opened his first studio. The studio was opened in New York and was opened along with Clara, his wife. His wife was also his assistant in the studio. They had earlier met while crossing the Atlantic to America. This method of body exercise was an instant hit when it got to the US. It was prevalent among dancers. And the first to pick it up were George Balanchine and Martha Graham.
Returns to Britain
Not until 1970 was when the Pilates method returned to Britain. And it was brought back by Alan Herdman, sent by the London School of Contemporary dance to visit New York. He was primarily sent to New York to investigate the ways of Joseph Pilates. In the same year, 1970, Herdman established the first Pilates studio in Britain. This studio was based at the Place in London.
Pilates Has A Long History
Pilates has a long history, as you have read above. This body exercise and conditioning method has been around for a long as used to significant effect. Above is all you may want and need to know about the origin of Pilates and what it’s about.
