Joseph Pilates - The Man Behind Pilates

In the event you know anything about fitness, then I'm sure you've heard of Pilates. It's known to build strength whilst creating a toned, slender body. It assists to improve your posture, flexibility and agility. It could be used to prevent and help to rehabilitate injuries. The list goes on and on for this type of exercise that has millions of individuals doing it everyday. But exactly where did this magical type of physical exercise come from? Who's the master mind behind it all?

Well the name says it all Pilates, Joseph Pilates that's. He was born in Germany in 1880 and was a really sickly child battling rickets, asthma and rheumatic fever. Despite his aliments he took up gymnastics, bodybuilding and diving. And so began the development of his physical fitness system, which shows influences from gymnastics, yoga, boxing and martial arts to name a few.

Pilates traveled to England in 1912 as a circus performer. Throughout Globe War I he interned in a camp on the Isle of Man and taught other people his physical fitness program. Whilst there, he began creating apparatus to assist rehabilitate the sick and injured. After the war he traveled towards the United States, on the way Joseph met Clara, who would later turn out to be his wife. They moved to New York and set up a studio in their apartment.

More than the years, Pilates developed more than 600 exercises to be done on various pieces of equipment he produced. The Reformer, Cadillac, Wunda Chair, and Barrel are just a few examples of his apparatus inventions that you will find in most Pilates studios globe wide. Some even claim the Wunda Chair to be the very first house gym.

Pilates' philosophy was that the important to achieving good wellness comes from addressing the entire being which includes the thoughts, body and spirit. All of his equipment is designed to train the whole body using movements that simulate functional activities and therefore the body comes into right alignment and balance.

There isn't any doubt that Joseph Pilates was a brilliant man who was ahead of his time. He touched the lives of many people and his workouts will continue to alter lives for the better. In the event you haven't attempted Pilates but, why not consider generating it a part of your weekly workout routines. Your thoughts and body will thank you.