...a little more history:

On December 9, 1883, a man was born in Mönchengladbach, Germany, who left us a unique legacy: Joseph Hubertus Pilates—known simply as "Joe" to his friends and followers.

His skills and knowledge were far ahead of his time. Joe was self-taught; he observed, listened, and learned from what he saw and heard.

In 1912, he moved to England, where he earned a living as a boxer and circus performer. Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, he was interned as a German national near Lancaster, England. The camp's inmates quickly came to appreciate and love the benefits of his exercise routines. He emigrated to the USA in 1926, at the age of 46. Together with his third wife, Clara—whom he met during the voyage—he opened the first Pilates studio in New York. It was a fitness studio featuring a new and exceptional training method that rapidly gained popularity among New York dancers, singers, and actors. Celebrities such as Gregory Peck, Johnny Weissmuller, Max Schmeling, and Katharine Hepburn were among his clients.

Joe was always convinced that people needed to regain control over their bodies.

Today, this is more important than ever, as so many things distract us from what truly matters. Far ahead of his time, Pilates recognized early on the negative effects of our fast-paced world and the imbalance between body and mind that can result from it.

Throughout his life, Joseph H. Pilates worked on refining and further developing his methods, striving to make them accessible and practicable for as many people as possible. He not only created an excellent mat-based workout but also developed outstanding training equipment—such as the Reformer, the Chair, the Ped-o-Pull, and more—as well as accessories like the magic circle and foam roller to further intensify the mat exercises.

He passed away on October 9, 1967, at the age of 84 in New York, USA. His wife, Clara, died on February 6, 1972, at the age of 89.
He created something truly remarkable for posterity. Thank you, Joe!
I would have loved to meet you in person.

You can learn more about Joe Pilates the man in the book published in 2015 by historian Eva Rincke: *Pilates – Der Mann, dessen Name Programm wurde* (Pilates: The Man Whose Name Became a Brand).