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The Pilates Method (pronounced pul-LAH-teez) of body conditioning seeks to increase flexibility and strength for the total body without building bulk. The focus is on strengthening the "powerhouse" (abdomen, lower back and buttocks), enabling the rest of the body to move freely. There are more than 500 exercises in the Pilates Method, using five major pieces of unique apparatus. The method favors fewer repetitions with precise movements, requiring proper control and form. The mental focus required to properly perform the movements encourages a heightened awareness of muscle function and control. The History Of Pilates Pilates was developed in the 1920's by the legendary physical trainer, Joseph Pilates. Born in Germany in 1880, Pilates was a frail child dedicated to improving his health. He held a lifelong interest in body conditioning and grew to become an accomplished skier, diver, gymnast, circus performer and boxer. His fascination with physical fitness as a way to transform his physical appearance and improve his health led him to the study and mastery of Eastern philosophies such as yoga and karate. Once word of Pilates' work spread throughout Germany, the Kaiser demanded that Joseph Pilates train his elite troops. Since he was a pacifist, Pilates politely declined and opted to leave his native Germany. He relocated to England and began a career as a circus performer. When World War I broke out, Pilates was interned in a prison camp because of his German citizenship and became a nurse. In this environment Pilates began experimenting with any resources available to him, such as his bunk, the bedsprings or a chair, to fashion exercise equipment for himself and his patients. These early experiments formed the foundation for his style of body conditioning and the unique apparatus used in Pilates today. After the war ended and Pilates' notoriety grew, heavyweight boxing phenomenon, Max Schmelling was just one of the many athletes and performers who turned to him for training. Pilates brought to Schmelling's camp, not only his revolutionary method of body conditioning, but also his expertise and knowledge of boxing. The two became inseparable friends. When Schmelling was given a shot at a championship title fight in New York City, he recognized the opportunity to advance his career by emigrating to the United States. To persuade Pilates to join him, Schmelling's manager agreed to finance a studio in New York City where Pilates could advance his method. Pilates' 8th Avenue studio soon attracted an ecclectic and influential following, including dancers and athletes from around the world. It was during this time that Pilates was introduced to Romana Kryzanowska, a young dancer who would become his protege and devotee. Since Pilates' death in the late 1960's, Romana and her daughter Sari have kept the Pilates method alive with all its integrity intact.
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