Joseph Hubertus Pilates (1883–1967) was the creator of the method which he himself named Contrology. Born in Germany, he developed his system by drawing inspiration from yoga, gymnastics, and martial arts, before refining it in New York from the 1920s onwards in his 8th Avenue studio.
Its philosophy is based on the unity of body and mind: each movement is intentional, controlled, and relies on the Powerhouse — the deep abdominal corset. He designs all the apparatus himself — the Reformer, Cadillac, Barrel, Chair — as extensions of this principle.
