The Story of Reformer Pilates

Over a century ago, during the chaos of World War I, a German man named Joseph Pilates was interned in a camp in England. Instead of giving up, he turned his time into a mission: helping injured and bedridden fellow inmates rebuild their strength.

With nothing but old hospital beds, springs, and his determination, he began creating exercises that allowed patients to regain mobility while lying down. These makeshift spring-loaded beds were the very first Reformers.

The results were extraordinary. Soldiers who had been unable to walk started to recover. Their spines grew stronger, their posture improved, and many left the camp healthier than before their injuries. Word spread, and after the war, Joseph brought his method to New York

City — where dancers, athletes, and everyday people discovered the transformative effects of his “Contrology” (what we now call Pilates).

Today, Reformer Pilates continues that legacy.

• It trains the body as one connected system.

• It supports recovery from injury.

• It builds strength and flexibility together, protecting joints and the spine.

• And it calms the mind as much as it strengthens the body.

From makeshift hospital beds in wartime to sleek Reformers in modern studios, the heart of Joseph Pilates’ vision remains the same: movement that heals, strengthens, and empowers every body.