In 1926 on 8th Avenue, everyday New Yorkers would arrive at a simple, homely gym filled with peculiar apparatus, weights and mats. They came in their hordes to be taught by “eclectic physical trainer”, Joseph Pilates, or JP as he was affectionately referred to.
JP was a German immigrant who called his mat-based method of movement “Contrology”. He curated a particular order of 34 exercises that were designed to move the body through its fullest range of motion, in all different directions. His work reveals to us
