Pilates

In 10 sessions you will feel the difference, in 20 sessions you will see the difference, in 30 sessions you will have a whole new body.
Joseph H. Pilates

The Pilates method of body conditioning is a unique system of stretching and strengthening exercises developed over a century ago by Joseph H. Pilates. Benefits of this system include:

strengthens and tones muscles
improves posture
provides flexibility and balance
unites body and mind
creates a more streamlined shape.

Contrary to popular belief, Joseph Pilates created his method of exercise, which he called Contrology, for men. He initially taught it to athletes, acrobats, policemen, and the military.

With its wide range of exercises, Pilates is suitable for all ages and fitness levels.

About Joseph H. Pilates

Pilates began developing his exercise system in Germany in the early 1900s. Plagued by asthma and rickets as a child, Pilates was determined to strengthen his frail and sickly body. His method sprang from this determination. He became a circus performer and a boxer. In 1912 he went to England where he worked as a self-defense instructor for detectives at Scotland Yard. At the outbreak of World War I, Joe was interned as an "enemy alien" with other German nationals. During his internment, Pilates refined his ideas and trained other internees, and ultimately wounded war veterans, 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 Pilates's trainees died. This, he claimed, testified to the effectiveness of his system.

After his release, Joe returned to Germany. His exercise method gained favor in the dance community, primarily through Rudolf von Laban, who created the form of dance notation most widely used today. Hanya Holm adopted many of Joe's exercises for her modern dance curriculum, and they are still part of the "Holm Technique." When German officials asked Pilates to teach his fitness system to the army, he decided to leave Germany for good.

In 1926, Pilates opened his first “Pilates Studio” in New York, attracting athletes and some of the city’s finest dancers, including George Balanchine and Martha Graham. Housewives and businessmen also came to Pilates to get and stay fit. Many people who were unable to find help from conventional medicine found Joseph Pilates and were helped by him. An opera singer who lost her voice was able to sing again after working with him. A conductor who lost the use of his arms was restored to his career.

Click on any of the links below to go directly to information about the other methods and modalities Michelle teaches.