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German-born fitness innovator Joseph H. Pilates (1881-1967) developed the Pilates exercise system in the 1920s. His interest in physical fitness stemmed from a desire to strengthen his own body and improve his health after a sickly childhood. His method is a combination of exercise and physical movement with focused breathing designed to stretch, strengthen, and balance the body and work the mind and muscle in harmony. Its concepts and exercises are the result of years of self-study and apprenticeship in yoga, Zen, and ancient Greek and Roman physical regimens plus some successes as a gymnast, diver, and boxer.
Its exercises make a powerful yet low to no impact fitness regimen, and can be done in combination with professional sports training and physical rehabilitation of all kinds.
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