Legacy
Joseph’s philosophy extended far beyond a series of exercises.
He believed that good health depended upon a harmonious relationship between the mind and body, and that natural, intelligent movement could help prevent illness and improve quality of life.
He wrote two books. Your Health explored his philosophy of Contrology, including his ideas about health, movement and the mind-body connection. He later co-wrote Return to Life Through Contrology, which detailed the sequence of 34 original floor work exercises.
Interestingly, while these exercises were recorded and published, Joseph’s equipment-based system was never officially documented in the same way.
This meant that much of the method was passed from teacher to teacher — through observation, practice and experience.
Joseph and Clara continued teaching at their New York studio into the 1960s. Joseph died in 1967, aged 83, after suffering from advanced emphysema, which was undoubtedly worsened by a studio fire in 1966 when he had been trapped in the building while trying to save his belongings.
Clara continued teaching after Joseph’s death. The teachers who had trained directly with Joseph and Clara became known as the Pilates Elders. They preserved and passed on what they had learned, teaching subsequent generations and keeping Joseph’s original method alive.
And so Contrology evolved into what we now simply call Pilates.
Joseph Pilates was undoubtedly a man ahead of his time. He saw exercise not simply as a way to change how the body looked, but took a holistic approach which combined strength, flexibility, breathing, concentration, posture, precision and control.
He was also, by all accounts, quite a character. He had strong opinions and an unwavering belief in his method. He demanded precision, advocated cleanliness and was regularly seen in his, now infamous, workout briefs.
More than a century later, millions of people around the world continue to practice and enjoy and be inspired by Pilates. What began with one man’s determination to overcome his own physical limitations has become a global movement practice — helping people build strength, improve mobility, develop body awareness and reconnect the mind and body.
by Kate Wilson
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