History of pilates Flashcards
The Pilates method is not a new age phenomenon and has been around for?
over 100 years
Who is the founder? where was he born and when?
Joseph Hubertus Pilates was born in 1883 in Monchengladbach, Germany.
What diseases was he plagued by that made him come up with pilates?
He grew up plagued by rickets, asthma, and rheumatic fever, and through his determination to overcome his health problems he studied and developed an exercise programme that assisted in restoring him to optimal health.
Many of the exercise beliefs he researched dated back to what era?
Greeks and Romans and through his programme, he gained enough strength to become an accomplished bodybuilder, diver, skier, and gymnast.
At the age of 32, Joseph moved to England where he used his skills as a professional boxer to teach self-defense to who?
members of the police force
When the First World War broke out, Joseph was interned by the British authorities in a camp, and during that time he continued developing his interest in health and physical fitness. What did he do when he was at the camp?
he trained other interns, many of whom needed serious rehabilitation.
What did Joseph Pilates observe when he was in the camp? (2)
- that where there was a weak or misaligned area in the body a person tended to overcompensate or overdevelop another area. Therefore, it was critical not only to correct the misalignment but also to re-educate the body so that the injuries did not repeat themselves.
- He also believed that true well-being could be achieved through physical fitness and a positive mental attitude.
When did Joseph pilates move to the USA?
In the early 1920s
What was it that he did when he moved to the USA?
on the journey over he met Clara, his future wife.
In 1926 they established a studio in New York City, which they shared with the New York City Ballet. It was here that he taught his method of exercise, which he named Contrology.
What did ‘contrology’ consist of?
The slow controlled flowing movements primarily strengthen the ‘core’ muscles that stabilise and support the spine, realign the body, and help correct postural problems. Pilates brings mind and body together, focusing strongly on total concentration, balance, precision and breathing.
The technique was very much ‘hands-on’, taught through observation and correction of technique and alignment.
What is meant by ‘the method’?
It was Joseph’s wife, Clara, that began to develop the method, passing information and teachings on to apprenticeships - The Pilates Elders – these Elders were trained directly from the first New York City studio. Between them, they progressed Joseph’s work by studying how the method could be adapted to meet the needs of the individual.
When did the name change from ‘the method of contrology’ to ‘pilates’
The original name of this unique method was changed from ‘Contrology’ to Pilates after his death in 1967 and it was introduced to the UK by Alan Herdman in the early 1970s.
What was the name of the first book that Joseph Pilates published and when?
Your health in 1934
What was the name of the 2nd book that Joseph Pilates published and when?
Return to life through contrology in 1945
