As a sickly and weak child in the late 1800s, Joseph Pilates sought a system to achieve and maintain the ultimate human well-being. From his study of yoga, ancient Greek and Roman physical regimens, and the movements of babies & sleek animals such as cats, Joe developed a system of exercise he called “Contrology”. Within a few years, Pilates went from frail and sickly to posing for anatomy posters as the epitome of health.

Joe moved to England in 1912, where it is said he worked in the circus, as a boxer and a self-defense instructor for Scotland Yard. At the outbreak of World War I, Joe was interned with other Germans. There, he refined his ideas and trained others in his system of exercise. He rigged springs to hospital beds, enabling bedridden patients to exercise against resistance, an innovation that led to his later equipment designs. An influenza epidemic struck England in 1918, killing thousands of people, but not a single one of Joe's trainees died. This, he claimed, testified to the effectiveness of his system.

In 1926, Joe emigrated to the United States. During the voyage he met Clara, with whom he spent the rest of his life. Joe and Clara opened a studio in New York, where the dance community and privileged individuals caught on to the benefits of what Pilates was teaching. Joe continued to train clients at his studio until his death in 1967, at the age of 87.

Several students of Joe and Clara went on to open their own studios. In the 1970s, Hollywood celebrities discovered Pilates via Ron Fletcher's studio in Beverly Hills. Where the stars go, the media follows. In the late 1980s, the media began to cover Pilates extensively. The public took note, and the Pilates business boomed. "I'm fifty years ahead of my time," Joe once claimed. He was right. No longer the workout of the elite, Pilates has entered the fitness mainstream. Today, over 10 million Americans practice Pilates, and the numbers continue to grow.

I suffered from general back pain through my early twenties. There was no clear sign of what the problem was and no decisive relief. I tried many avenues including medication, chiropractic, yoga, and physical therapy, all of which helped, but didn’t alleviate the problem. I had been hearing and reading about Pilates and wanted to try it. My friend invited me to a class she heard was starting down the road from our office during our lunch break. After my first few classes, I had relief from pain and a new feeling of lightness, strength, and alignment in my body. The focused, yet dance-like movements made sense to my mind and body and I embraced it. I felt this was what my body had been searching for.

I later realized through my Pilates training, my back pain was due to weak abdominals and muscle imbalances. I have slight scoliosis and at the time I started taking classes, I sat at a desk and worked on a computer all day. After a few months of classes, I knew I’d do Pilates the rest of my life. After a few years of practicing, I got certified to teach and share with others.