Pilates: From its origin to modern day use


What is pilates?

Pretty much everyone has heard of Pilates in one way, shape or form. Whether it be a  recommendation from your GP or Osteopath, word of mouth from a family member or friend, social media advertising or simply, it has appeared on your gym timetable.

But what actually is it?

It would be great to be able to sum it up in one sentence but to do this is not as easy as it sounds due to its evolution over the years.


    “Contrology develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong postures, restores  

     physical vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit.”

                                                                                                     - Joseph Pilates


Most of us are familiar with the term Pilates but what isn’t common knowledge is the original name of the practice, ‘Contrology’, as seen in the quote above taken from Joseph Pilates’ book ‘Return to Life through Contrology.

So how did Contrology evolve into Pilates and become one of the most popular physical fitness systems across the world today? Lets take a look…

From Contrology to Pilates - A Timeline 

• Joseph Pilates: Born in Dusseldorf in 1883. He suffered several childhood ailments including asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever which inspired him to develop a system which could help him overcome these health challenges. He succeeded and went on to train in numerous modalities such as gymnastics, diving and skiing. By 1912, Joseph was living and working in England as a circus performer, boxer and fitness instructor. He was interned by the UK Government during the First World War and took this opportunity to further hone his fitness techniques and enjoyed teaching his fellow internees. 1932 saw Joseph publish a booklet called “Your Health” discussing his philosophies, principles, and theories about health and fitness.

 

• Early Days: Originally, Pilates was used as a rehabilitation tool for injured soldiers during World War I. As an orderly in a hospital on the Isle of Man, Joseph began working with patients unable to walk. It was there he designed the ‘Cadillac’, which involved placing springs on the patient’s bed to support their limbs.

 

The Birth Of Pilates: It was in 1926 in New York, that Joseph and Clara founded the ‘body-conditioning gym’, which is considered to be the birthplace of Pilates as we know it today. Joseph was primarily responsible for developing the movements, but it was his wife Clara who took the lead in educating and passing their knowledge on to others, who became known as ‘Pilates Elders’. 1932 saw Joseph publish a booklet called “Your Health” discussing his philosophies, principles, and theories about health and fitness. He came to believe that the "modern" lifestyle, bad posture and inefficient breathing lay at the roots of poor health. He ultimately devised a series of exercises and training techniques, and engineered all the equipment, specifications, and tuning required to teach his methods.


• Niche Years (40’s to 60’s): Pilates gained traction among elite athletes and dancers in New York, particularly at Joseph Pilates’ studio becoming a niche practice.

 

Contrology : In 1945, Joseph Pilates developed his method "Contrology," focusing on controlled movements to strengthen the body and improve alignment and flexibility. The book was based on his overriding concept of balancing one’s mind and body.

 

• Post Jo (70’s to 80s): Following Pilates' death in 1967, his students, known as the "Pilates Elders," began to spread his teachings. Studios opened worldwide, preserving his original methods.

 

• The Trend: By the 1980s, Pilates had started to transition from a niche practice popular with dancers and physical therapists to a more mainstream fitness trend. Celebrities, especially those involved in the fitness boom of the 1980s, began to incorporate Pilates into their routines, leading to wider exposure. There was a huge surge in fitness culture, with aerobics and gym-based workouts dominating the landscape and Pilates, which emphasised core strength, flexibility, and controlled movements, began to be seen as a complementary practice for injury prevention and recovery, which resonated with athletes and fitness enthusiasts looking for more balanced approaches.

 

Enter Social Media: Pilates on social media has become a popular trend, with influencers, fitness professionals, and brands using platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to promote the benefits of Pilates exercises, share workout routines, and engage with their audiences.

 

As we read through the timeline, it becomes apparent that over time, Pilates has evolved as a tool used for:

  • Injury prevention, recovery and rehab

  • Core strengthening

  • Improving alignment and flexibility

  • Learning controlled movement

  • Balancing the mind and body

  • Addressing the identification that the "modern" lifestyle, bad posture and inefficient breathing lay at the roots of poor health

 Benefits of pilates,  Benefits of pilates,  Benefits of pilates,  Benefits of pilates,

It appears that Pilates is more than just a workout—it’s a mind-body exercise system that promotes core strength, flexibility, balance, and mental clarity.

Yet in more recent years, with the introduction of social media, sadly, these incredible benefits of Pilates has been somewhat overshadowed by images of how one must look to do Pilates, what gender one should be, what one should wear, how old one should be and how physically fit one needs to be to be able to do Pilates.

So to set the record straight, Pilates has no size requirement, no gender preference, no dress code, no age restrictions and certainly no pre requisite in regards to movement capability!  Pilates,  Pilates,  Pilates

The mind-body system has been built to acknowledge each individuals unique starting point and to work with them to develop a route to discover and thus maintain the healthiest and happiest version of themselves from a physical, mental and emotional perspective. It is for EVERY BODY!

Benefits of pilates, Benefits of pilates,  Benefits of pilates,  Benefits of pilates,

How is Pilates relevant in this day and age?

Pilates remains highly relevant today for a number of reasons but particularly due to its adaptability, accessibility and the benefits it offers for physical and mental health.

A Holistic Approach to Fitness: Pilates emphasises core strength, flexibility, balance, and posture. As modern lifestyles often involve sedentary work, extended sitting, and poor posture, Pilates provides an excellent way to counteract these effects by improving alignment and strengthening weak areas.


Prevention of Injury: Due to its focus on controlled movements and proper alignment, Pilates is widely recommended for injury prevention. It strengthens muscles, particularly the deep stabilising muscles, which can help in preventing strains or overuse injuries, especially for athletes or those engaging in high-intensity activities.


Mental Health Benefits: Pilates involves a mind-body connection, requiring concentration on breathing and movement. This mindfulness aspect has made Pilates an effective tool for reducing stress and improving mental clarity, providing a break from the fast pace and pressures of modern life.

Pilates in Ealing

How do we place Pilates in the world of Osteopathy?

Pilates has a significant role in the world of Osteopathy as both disciplines emphasise holistic health, body alignment, and movement efficiency. Integrating the old saying…

“Osteopathy is seen to ‘give the man a fish’ whereas Pilates is seen to ‘teach a man to fish’. ”
Pilates in Ealing, Pilates in Ealing, Pilates in Ealing, Pilates in Ealing,

In other words, where Osteopathy offers a reset, resulting in relief from pain, discomfort and imbalance, Pilates works with the student to understand why the pain, discomfort and imbalance was there in the first place and what tools could be put in place to prevent it coming back.  Pilates,  Pilates,  Pilates,  Pilates,  Pilates,  Pilates,

Examples of this can be seen below:  Pilates, Pilates in Ealing, Pilates in Ealing,

Core Strength and Stability: Osteopaths focus on restoring balance and alignment in the body. Pilates exercises target deep stabilising muscles of the body which are crucial for supporting the spine as well as other parts of the skeletal structure and are key in helping to prevent injuries and chronic pain.

Improved Posture: Osteopaths often work with patients who have postural imbalances causing pain and discomfort. Pilates helps improve posture by strengthening muscles that support proper alignment, particularly in the back, shoulders, and neck.

Flexibility and Range of Motion: Osteopaths frequently address conditions like muscle tightness or joint restrictions. Pilates offers a low-impact way to restore and maintain flexibility and mobility which can aid in relieving tension and stiffness.

Ealing, Pilates in Ealing, Pilates in Ealing, Pilates in Ealing, Pilates in Ealing, Pilates in

To conculde:

Pilates is a system created to teach us how to be the master of our own mind and body. It teaches us to take an interest in who we are, how we move, how we breath, and how we function within our surrounding world. It gives us the tools we need to adapt if we need to and to maintain a sense of self when we have lost track of who we are. Ealing, Pilates in Ealing, Pilates in Ealing, Pilates in Ealing, Pilates in Ealing,

Most importantly, it teaches us to know ourselves and the more we know about our human design, the quicker we can learn how to work with it rather than against it!


Ready to improve your strength, flexibility and balance? Reach out to our Pilates instructor Hayley by emailing Kate on kate@bridgetohealth.co.uk or phone the clinic reception on 01895 200050. Hayley is based in our Ealing clinic but can also see clients based elsewhere online. Your body will thank you for it!  Pilates,  Pilates,  Pilates,  Pilates,  Pilates,  Pilates,  Pilates,


Next
Next

Benefits of Osteopathy: The role of regular treatments