The History of Pilates - Pt 3

Let's continue to learn more about Joseph Pilates, the creator of the Pilates method.

Continued from Part 2. It's now 1918, and the war is finally ending. It took some time for the internees to be repatriated. Joseph was not repatriated until around March of 1919. He arrived back in Germany at the age of 36 and reunited with his daughter and stepson. Germany was very different now after the war.

He would spend the next six years continuing to develop his techniques and equipment. His work included assisting the Hamburg police in physical training. But by 1925, Hitler was gaining power in Germany, and with the Police being developed on a more military basis, Pont/Romero notes that Pilates links his departure to this change in Germany, and in 1925, he patents his “Universal Reformer ™, initially in America but also in Europe”. (Knockaloe Website)

He was asked to train the German military. Joseph decided to emigrate to America due to the country's political direction and for better opportunities, and did so April of 1926. On the ship to America, he met Clara Zeuner, a nurse who became his wife and partner in his fitness endeavors. 

Joseph and Clara Pilates arrived in New York City in 1926 and set up the first Pilates studio at 939 Eighth Avenue.  He lived and taught at this location and would be here until the end of his life.

With American awareness of their low levels of physical education and a move to improve this, and with America being far behind Germany in the understanding of sports medicine and training, this became a real opportunity for Joseph.

The studio attracted a wide range of people, from high society and business people to circus performers and dancers. Dance pioneers such as Martha Graham, George Balanchine, and Ted Shawn were among the first to recognize the value of Pilates' method for improving physical technique and aiding in injury recovery. 

Joseph Pilates lived into his eighties and practiced his methodology up until he passed away in 1967.

Pilates was in his eighties and still very much practicing his methodology. Pilates died in 1967.

If you would like to read more about his time at Knockaloe, please visit the link. I am grateful for their research into Joseph Pilates and being able to share it here to help educate fellow pilates lovers on the history of Joseph.