See our Pilates class timetable for Hampstead here
Joseph Humbertus Pilates was born in Germany in 1880 and died in New York in 1967. He spent his childhood fighting rickets, asthma and rheumatic fever. Determined to become physically healthy, Joseph studied yoga, Zen meditation, gymnastics and circus performing and devised his own system of exercise - now famously called Pilates.
Prior to the First World War, he was working in London training Scotland Yard detectives in self defence and subsequently spent the war years interned in the UK because of his nationality. Here, Joseph first devised programmes for his fellow inmates and patients using springs attached to beds in order to maintain their health and fitness.
Joseph's methodology for the use of springs was a belief that the springs would provide progressive resistance and bear weight at the same time to enable only partial loading forces on muscles, tendons, and ligaments and thus improve healing. He was right! After the war, Joseph returned to Germany briefly to devise physical fitness programmes for the German Police Force. However, due to the deteriorating political climate, he migrated to the USA in the early 20's and set up a studio in New York where he and the technique grew in popularity.
Cal us on 020 7794 6560 or email us at hampstead@appihealthgroup.com for appointments and further enquiries.
