The following account is based on excerpts of a text compiled from numerous interviews and many hours of conversations with friends, students and colleagues of Joseph Pilates. This project was conducted by Rael Isacowitz primarily for the purposes of a presentation at the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science annual meeting in Tel Aviv, 1995. All accounts were personal and subjective and therefore differed one from another in many instances.

Joseph Pilates was born near Dusseldorf, Germany in 1880. He was a sickly child, plagued with rickets, asthma and rheumatic fever. His drive to overcome these ailments led to the practice of body building, gymnastics, diving and skiing. He studied Eastern and Western forms of exercise and philosophies and was greatly influenced by ancient Grecian and Roman regimens.

In 1912, Joseph Pilates traveled to England. When World War I broke out, he, along with other German nationals, was interned in a camp for a year on the Isle of Man. While there, he taught and practiced his physical fitness program. It was in the camp that he began devising apparatus to aid in the rehabilitation of the disabled and sick. Joseph is credited with assisting many who had succumbed to the influenza epidemic of that time and helping others recover from wartime diseases.

After the war, Joseph Pilates returned to Germany where he was invited by the German Government to train the new German Army. Recognizing the implications of this, he decided to leave for America. (By certain accounts, he was invited to the United States by the manager of Matt Schmellings, a World Title holding boxer). On the way over to the States, Joseph met Clara who soon after became his wife.

In 1926 Joseph Pilates and Clara moved to New York City and set up the first Pilates studio. A varied and diverse population frequented the Studio, including the elite of New York society, circus performers, gymnasts and dancers. It was particularly the dance community and people such as George Balanchine, Ted Shawn, Martha Graham and many other lesser known dancers who truly recognized the value of this work and Joe Pilates' inherent and deep understanding of the workings of the human body. They embraced the work and what it could do for their bodies, being for rehabilitation or for enhancing performance.

Over the course of his career, Joseph Pilates developed over 600 exercises on various different pieces of apparatus he invented. His guiding philosophy in creating the apparatus and the movements was that the body must be exercised in it's entirety to achieve good health. The Pilates equipment is designed to condition the entire body using positions and movements which ultimately correct body alignment and balance. There is a large repertoire of movements on each piece of equipment. The exercises go from basic to super-advanced, and work the body in every possible position.

Using springs and pulleys creating progressive resistance, the equipment produces stretching and contracting (eccentric and concentric contractions) that simulate functional muscle action, at the same time the stabilizing muscle groups are working isometrically to maintain correct positioning.

Often called the "thinking person's" workout, the Pilates Method emphasizes precisely controlled movements that strengthen the pelvic, abdominal and back muscles, improves alignment and posture, and increases balance and flexibility. Throughout the work a high level of concentration and body awareness is imperative, and this method should always be approached as a mind-body regimen. Many of the principles and concepts Joseph Pilates felt passionately about in the early and mid 1900's have become so popular and accepted today as we enter the new millennium.

Body Arts and Science (BA&S) is a contemporary and cutting edge approach to the original teachings of J.H. Pilates. It is a unique integration of the science and art of human movement, that combines Rael Isacowitz's experience in dance, yoga, athletics; and over twenty years mastery of the complete and original repertoire and philosophy of Pilates' work. Rael brings this ingenious body of work into a modern context, never losing the essence of the original movements and apparatus and never under valuing the enormous contribution of Joseph and Clara Pilates for which he personally, and the community at large are forever indebted.