 |
Pilates: In 1923, German-born Joseph H. Pilates brought his unique method of physical and mental conditioning to the United States. His study of yoga and the martial arts, and his work with physicians and his wife Clara (a nurse), led to the development of his conditioning system. More than 70 years later, his techniques became the cornerstone of the Pilates Method. In 1967, the movement took an explosive leap forward when Ron Fletcher moved to Los Angeles. Fletcher, a dancer, possessed deep knowledge of the method and added many of his own important contributions. In 1984, the Center for Sports Medicine at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, San Francisco, began to use some Pilates' concepts to rehabilitate and condition dancers and athletes. Work at Saint Francis became recognized internationally, bringing it to the attention of mainstream health and fitness communities.
|