In his book Return to Life Through Contrology we see grainy black and white photos of Joe Pilates stretching and rolling, going from one seemingly odd pose to another. After swimming, a crescendo on moments begin as Joe performs one wildly difficult maneuver after another. A variety of complex positions you can only imagine.
The year ways 1945. The place New York City. Without knowing it, Joe was developing a revolutionary exercise modality that is just starting to begin seeing it’s potential today. Potential not only as fitness but as rehabilitation, as a guaranteed tried and true way of optimizing the body, developing it in such a balanced and specific way that it’s become the cornerstone for many top athletes. (more…)