100 years of the Pilates Studio: 1923 to 2023
This International Pilates Month, we plunged into the history books and share the origins and evolution of Pilates Studios from conception to the current day.
The Pilates method has come a long way since its inception in the early 20th century. Joseph Pilates moved from the UK to New York City in 1923 to open his first studio, and in 100 years, the Pilates method has remained loyal to his roots. Pilates has grown from a niche regime to a world-renowned daily workout practiced by millions.
Pilates pioneered a preventative self-care concept
During the chaos of World War I, anyone suspected of espionage in the UK was to be interned (under the Aliens Restriction Act of 1914), and having a German name was reason enough. By 1915 around 24,000 men were interned at Knockaloe Internment Camp on the Isle of Man, including Joseph Pilates. Pilates (pronounced “puh-LA-tees”) had been working in England as a professional boxer and self-defence instructor at police schools and Scotland Yard by day, and as a gladiatorial circus performer by night. For most internees, this was a prison sentence, but for Joseph Pilates, confinement gave him the freedom to develop his ideas around a new anatomically-based training method, inspired by scientific research, the carefree movement of children and feline dexterity.
Born near Düsseldorf, Germany in 1883, Pilates’ suffered many ailments through childhood; asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever. His drive and determination to overcome these ailments led him to become a competent gymnast, diver and skier. His own physical transformation from frail child to ‘acrobatic gladiator’, his awareness of and longing for physical well-being and his careful observation of the true rhythm and control in the animal kingdom, led him to develop his own exercise system, pioneering the concept of preventative self-care.
In the camp hospital, Pilates worked with patients with many ailments, including those unable to walk. He attached bed springs as a source of tension to the hospital beds to help support the patients' limbs, assist movement, encourage blood flow and teach the body and mind to reconnect. This led to the development of his famous piece of equipment known as the 'Cadillac'. He called the practice ‘Contrology’.
“The Pilates Method of Body Conditioning is gaining the mastery of your mind over the complete control over your body.”
Joseph H. Pilates
The First Pilates Studio: 1923-1945
In 1923 Joseph Pilates emigrated to the USA and met his wife Clara on the boat crossing. Together, they developed and taught the method in their first studio or 'body-conditioning gym' in New York. Located next to New York ballet school Joseph and Clara soon became known for their method in helping dancers overcome their frequent injuries as well as improving their skill as dancers. Initially, they used simple equipment such as springs and straps to help clients perform the exercises correctly. Pilates was challenging the norms of physical culture, he advocated holistic full-body movement, over single sport specialisms, like baseball or tennis, where he felt balance would be lost.
Word spread and Pilates’ method captured the attention of an eclectic crowd of choreographers and dancers like George Balanchine and Martha Graham, actors, lawyers, housewives and expectant mothers (for whom conventional medical knowledge forbade exercise during pregnancy) all incorporating his Pilates method into their training and lives. To convince sceptics he would use playful analogies:
“Take a horse. If a man wants to race him, he keeps him in top form. He makes the horse move. Why not keep humans in top form, too?”
Not yet widely known or practised, this first Pilates studio set the foundation for the Pilates movement that would follow. Joseph Pilates expected that his students would practice his method daily, saying that ‘Contrology’ (as Pilates was originally named) is designed to give you suppleness, natural grace, and skill that will be unmistakably reflected in the way you walk, in the way you play, and in the way you work. In other words, he saw it as a way of life.
“I invented all these machines... it resists your movements in just the right way so those inner muscles really have to work against it. That way you can concentrate on movement. You must always do it slowly and smoothly. Then your whole body is in it."
Joseph Pilates
Through Pilates’ Principles, he believed the depth of the work could be achieved, the principles are: Breath, Concentration, Centring, Control, Precision and Flow. He expressed:
"Above all, learn how to breathe correctly."
Joseph Pilates
Let’s take a minute to acknowledge Clara Pilates’ influence
Whilst the outspoken force behind the method was Joseph, it was his wife Clara Pilates - a trained nurse - who quietly incorporated his concepts and exercises in ways that benefited more seriously ill or injured clients. Her approachable style and special techniques spawned a dedicated lineage of teachers whose work flows through the landscape of the Pilates method as it is today. It is perhaps because of Clara that Pilates is clearly recognised as a positive form of movement-based exercise that truly can be tailored to any level of fitness and health.
Expansion and Recognition: 1945-1990
In 1945, after his death, his students and disciples continued to spread the Pilates method. The popularity of the method began to grow in the 1970s and 1980s, as more fitness enthusiasts became interested in Pilates' approach to exercise.
Pilates studios began to pop up in major cities across the United States and around the world, with many studios offering classes on the mat and on equipment such as the Reformer, Cadillac, and Wunda Chair. Hollywood celebrities started practicing Pilates and by the late eighties, it was in the mainstream media consciousness. The Pilates method also gained recognition from the medical community, as doctors and physical therapists began to incorporate Pilates exercises into their patients' rehabilitation programs. It also became a training element for elite athletes and Olympians all over the world.
According to Mary Bowen, a student of Joseph Pilates, "Pilates was way ahead of his time, and it's taken the rest of the world this long to catch up. I think that's why it's become so popular now."
Pilates died in his eighties in 1967, still teaching.
His work remained and flourished after his death, in large part due to his protégés, referred to as the “elders.” Clara continued to operate the Pilates Studio in New York with the help of the Elders, whilst others opened their own studios spreading the word even further.
Modernisation and Innovation: 1990-2010
As the Pilates method became more mainstream in the early nineties, Pilates studios began incorporating new technology and equipment into their teaching. This included the development of Pilates-specific machines and apparatus, such as the Pilates Tower, the Pilates Arc, and the Pilates Chair.
Pilates studios also began to offer online classes and training programs, making the method more accessible to people who may not have access to a physical studio. In addition, Pilates instructors began incorporating other exercise modalities into their Pilates classes, such as yoga, barre, and cardio, to provide a more varied workout experience.
One of the most significant developments in the 1990s was the creation of the Polestar Pilates approach. Polestar Pilates was founded in 1992 by Brent Anderson, a physical therapist and Pilates instructor. The Polestar approach is a holistic, integrative approach to Pilates that combines Pilates exercises with physical therapy principles, functional movement, and mindfulness.
According to Brent Anderson,
"The Polestar Pilates approach is about treating the person, not just the body. We focus on helping our clients to move more efficiently, improve their posture, and reduce their risk of injury. Our goal is to help people live healthier, happier lives”
The Future of Pilates Studios: 2023, and beyond
As we look to the future, Pilates studios will continue to evolve and adapt to changing trends and technology. Virtual and online Pilates classes will likely become even more prevalent than in the post-pandemic boom, providing convenient and accessible options for clients all over the world.
Studios owners like Becky at the long-established The Body Workshop Pilates have embraced the virtual Pilates experience and hire their reformers to clients at home fitting virtual classes more easily into their schedules.
More specialisation of skills is anticipated, Pilates is already in health care and hospitals, but it’s expanding into spas, football and rugby clubs as well as rotational sports like tennis and golf and the equestrian world. Gender and life stage specialisms too, such as Claire Sparrow’s Whole Body Pelvic Health, and Pilates for men, older adults and teens. At Lauren Hilton Pilates, we already specialise in women’s wellness through all major life stages, from pregnancy to post-menopause. (-check out our classes and memberships below)
There’ll likely be a continued focus on customisation, with more studios offering personalised training programs that are tailored to the specific needs of each client.
The physiotherapy-driven Polestar Pilates approach is also likely to continue to grow; Polestar challenges the idea that you need to work harder, promoting the idea of creating an efficient opportunity for people to move over any other sort of isolating muscle recruitment; treating the person, not just a part of their body.
There will also be a focus on combining Pilates with other wellness practices, such as mindfulness and meditation, as well as including it as part of a cross-training programme for athletes and performers.
The versatility of Pilates is likely its best asset
Joseph Pilates once claimed he was “50 years ahead of his time”, and we tend to agree! The Pilates Studio has stood the test of time for 100 years already and continues to grow in popularity. For millions, Pilates remains an, as yet, undiscovered daily moment of self-care. If that’s you, go try it!
Don’t forget - your May challenge
May is the month when the global Pilates community celebrates International Pilates Day, so this May, I challenge you to add just 10 minutes of Pilates twice a week. Try these exercises: Pelvic clocks, bridging, and book openings.
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