Joseph Pilates was born in Dusseldorf in 1880 and despite being a rather sickly child who suffered from rickets, asthma and rheumatic fever, he lived to the grand age of 87.

Determined to overcome his fragility and develop a strong healthy body, Joseph Pilates studied body building, diving, skiing and gymnastics. Drawing from this athletic training, he devised a series of exercises that enabled him not only to improve his health, but to develop a body that was strong and fit enough to pose for anatomical charts.

In 1912 Pilates moved to England and began training detectives at Scotland Yard. However, when the war broke out, because of his nationality, he was interned in Lancashire and then on the Isle of Man. Pilates spent the duration of the war helping out in the camp infirmary and further developing his techniques. He devised makeshift exercise aids by attaching bedsprings in various positions so that patients recovering from injuries could exercise safely. Modern versions of this equipment can be found in Pilates studios today and are known as reformers.

In the late 1920's Joseph Pilates emigrated to the United States where he opened an exercise studio that became popular with dancers, actors, gymnasts and athletes. By the 1960's his clients included famous names such as George Balanchine, The New York City Ballet and Martha Graham's Modern Dance Company.

Pilates has finally leaked into the real world whereby you do not need to be a gymnast, dancer or athlete to train in pilates. It has been proven to help back pain, asthma, migraine, neck pain, all sorts of physical injuries, balance, and definately improves posture, flexibility and is a great stress reliever.

Pilates can be done purely on the floor in what is called a matwork class, or can be done with the use of small equipment like a ball and foam roller, or large equipment like a reformer or cadillac.
Come and try it for yourself. You will be hooked for life!