Joseph Pilates was born in Germany in 1880. He had a lifelong interest in body conditioning. As a frail child dedicated to improving his strength, he later became an accomplished skier, diver, gymnast, and boxer.
Joseph Pilates went on to become a nurse in England during WWI. During his internment, Pilates designed exercise equipment for his immobilized patients by attaching springs to hospital beds. This system became the foundation for his style of body conditioning. He brought this system to New York when he opened his first Pilates studio in 1926 and went on to create what is now known as The Pilates Method of Body Conditioning.
“After 10 sessions you will feel better, after 20 sessions you will look better and after 30 sessions you will have a new body!”
– Joseph Pilates
Dear pure-Pilates people,
Do you have any information on the V-bed’s Mr Pilates designed – I would love to try that.
Thank you very much
Joshua
Comment by Joshua — January 19, 2010 @ 4:37 pm
Joshua,
Thank you for your interest in Pilates and more specifically in Joseph Pilates little known V-Bed which was patented by Joseph back in 1930. What I know about the bed is that it is essentially a sleep system used to minimize the effects of rolling around restlessly as seen in many flat mattresses. The V design holds you in place so you don’t roll around. There is a video I’ve seen on youtube called “Pilates Bed Assembly.” I just checked and it’s still there. The beds are built by a man by the name of Geoff Jones. Hope this helps!!
Karen
http://www.pure-pilates.net
Comment by Karen Winselmann — January 21, 2010 @ 7:40 pm