Original version

BBC World Service South Asia

Sporting Witness

Podcasts

Factual: History

Sport

The inside and personal story of the key moments from sporting history

No Master Brand

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC Afghan Radio

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

Sporting Witness: Meeting Mr Pilates

Magazines & Reviews

Meeting Mr Pilates

21/10/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Sporting Witness, Meeting Mr Pilates

Joseph Pilates taught his fitness method in a studio in New York to Mary Bowen

In the 1950s, Joseph Pilates taught his fitness method in a studio in New York. Mary Bowen was one of his students.

Joseph Pilates developed a system of strengthening exercises which are now practised all over the world. He called it "contrology", but it's now better known as just Pilates.

We hear from Mary Bowen, one of the Pilates Elders, who studied with Joseph Pilates and his wife Clara in New York in the 1950s.

(Photo: Joseph Pilates, inventor, physical fitness guru and founder of the Pilates exercise method demonstrates a technique on his 'Bednasium' in his 8th Avenue studio on October 4, 1961 in New York City, Credit: I.C. Rapoport/Getty Images)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Sporting Witness

Meeting Mr Pilates

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service South Asia

About BBC World Service