All that you don’t know about Pilates

By Elimar Venegas

Did you know that Pilates is one of the fastest growing forms of exercise? In 2000 the United States recorded 1.7 million people involved in the Pilates technique, by 2006 that number grew to 10.6 million making the growth rate above 600% in just 6years! This number keeps growing year by year.
It is one of the best forms of exercise for overall conditioning, toning and relaxation, based on a combination of yoga, meditation, martial arts and other fitness disciplines.


The Pilates exercise systems were developed back in the 1920s by German-born, fitness innovator Joseph H. Pilates. His interest in physical fitness stemmed from a determination to strengthen his own body and improve his health after a sickly childhood. He first used the yoga-like moves to rehabilitate Second World War soldiers.


After the war, Joseph Pilates moved to New York and with his wife, Clara Pilates, opened up a studio near the New York City Ballet in 1926. It wasn’t long before he drew a following with dancers who took to Pilates for its ability to create long, lean muscles and a strong, streamlined physique. He devised a unique sequence of movements and so the modern day method was born.

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