How was "Pilates" created?
    

Joseph Pilates was born in Germany in 1880 to a prize-winning gymnast father and a mother who worked as a naturopath. He was a sickly child and devoted his entire life to improving his physical strength. Originally a gymnast, diver, and bodybuilder, he also earned his living as a boxer, circus-performer and self-defense trainer. His studies of yoga, zen, body-bulding and gymnastics serve as the basis for his system of movement which he dubbed "Contrology" and we know today as "Pilates". Emmigrating to NY in 1925, Joseph Pilates met his wife Clara, a nurse with a background in teaching, on the ship to America. The couple established a studio in New York City where they taught Joe's system of exercise and fitness. This method, dubbed "Contrology", emphasized the use of controlling the muscles with the mind. Joe and Clara soon established a following of dancers through George Balanchine and Martha Graham referring their injured dancers to him for training and rehabilitation. Joe maintained excellent physical fitness throughout his life, ultimately dying in 1967, at the age of 87, from smoke inhalation during a studio fire. Clara survived him until she passed away in 1977.

How has Pilates exercise evolved?


Pilates exercise, as it is known today, has been passed down through the original students of Joe and Clara Pilates, which the greater Pilates community refers to as "elders". One well known elder is Romana Kryzanowska who established a certifying school which teaches what is dubbed as "classical" or "real" Pilates. The greater community of elders have worked with their proteges in establishing certifying schools of Pilates exercise, integrating current medical research and physical therapy principles with the original choreography, increasing the efficiency -and safety- of Pilates training methods. Kelly Kane, Reflexion owner Michelle Cottle's certifying teacher, founded her school on these deeper principles of anatomy and biomechanics.



DISCOVER THE BENEFITS OF PILATES EXERCISE WITH REFLEXION'S INTRODUCTORY OFFER: Buy 4 private sessions, get 1 free!  New clients only.


Reflexion fitness studio is pleased to offer Pilates and Gyrotonic exercise to Bedford, Bedford Hills, Katonah, Mt. Kisco, Chappaqua, Somers, Greenwich, and all of Northern Westchester County.