This thesis is based on the assumption that knowing pilates history and development leads to a better understanding of this whole exercise system. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to summarise pilates history and its development. Furthermore, the pilates method is presented here as a holistic exercise system that includes the use of different apparatuses and equipment.
The thesis collects all the evidence-based facts about pilates since popular science does use half-true or even untrue information for advertising purposes. All online interviews connected with pilates history have been examined in order to better understand pilates history. Written sources have been used as references.
The pilates exercise system begun to develop during the First World War since 1915. The founder of this method is Joseph Pilates, a German, who started to develop his exercise method when he was interned in England. The technique became popular after 1926, when Joseph Pilates moved to the USA and opened there his first studio. He himself called his method Contrology as its main purpose was to achieve a better control of the body during the movement. Pilates designed apparatuses and equipment that along with matwork formed the whole pilates method system. Many clients visited his studio to recover from injury. Most of them were dancers. Some of them even became apprentices and later on teachers. Today they are called the Elders or First-Generation Teachers. The method started to spread around the world thanks to different teachers while Joseph Pilates was still alive. Therefore, the method gradually changed and modified. After Pilates death, the popularity of the method has spread and the sustained interest in it continues to grow. Since today many pilates companies, schools and centres have been established and they keep spreading and developing pilates around the whole world.
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