Pilates was developed by Joseph Pilates, from Mönchengladbach, Germany. His father
was a gymnast and his
mother
a
naturopath.
During the first half of the twentieth century, he developed a system of exercises which were intended to
strengthen the
human mind and body. Mr Pilates believed that mental and physical health were interrelated.
He said that the inspiration for his method came to him during World War One, while he was being held
at
the
Knockaloe internment camp on the Isle of Man. He developed his method there for four years, working on his
fellow
internees.