Marjolein von Sonsbeek has asked this wonderful question last week! I’ve been looking forward to answering it, because one of these people has definitely influenced Joseph Pilates a lot in my opinion: Bess Mensendieck! She was a very exciting woman!
Dr. Bess Mensendieck (1864-1957) was a doctor. She developed a gymnastic method for women to help them to get to know their body and get back into shape after child birth in the beginning of the 20th century. In her book “Körperkultur des Weibes” – English: Bodyculture of women – in 1906 she wrote: “To us this loss of beauty following motherhood seems sad and unfair.” (Bess Mensendieck, Körperkultur des Weibes, p.7) Her exercises were supposed to solve this.
Bess Mensendieck made a point of strengthening the center of the body: the lower spine and the pelvis were supposed to stabilize the whole body. To make this clear for her students Bess Mensendieck used the word “Zentrale” – English: center – for this part of the body. (See: Bess Mensendieck, Funktionelles Frauenturnen, p.107)
Joseph Pilates not only adopted this idea, he implemented it into his own exercises. Looking at the details you will find many similarities between Pilates exercises and the exercises Bess Mensendieck was teaching. Just have a look at this picture from her book “Körperkultur des Weibes”!
Bess Mensendieck, 1906 “Körperkultur des Weibes”
Bess Mensendieck wanted her students to perform exercises naked: in her opinion this was necessary so that the teacher could see whether they were engaging the right muscles! This was another inspiration for Joe Pilates. In his studio in New York clients were supposed to wear bathing shorts or a bathing dress, dispensable fabric was striclty prohibited.
But let me return to Marjolein’s question. I have to admit that I didn’t find traces of the ideas of Sebastian Kneipp or Rudolf Steiner in Joseph Pilates’ work. What about you? Do you think I missed something? I’m looking forward to your comments and more questions of course!
Hi Eva,
Basing comments like “Joseph Pilates not only adopted this idea, he implemented it into his own exercises. Looking at the details you will find many similarities between Pilates exercises and the exercises Bess Mensendieck was teaching.” and “Bess Mensendieck wanted her students to perform exercises naked: in her opinion this was necessary so that the teacher could see whether they were engaging the right muscles! This was another inspiration for Joe Pilates. ” should not be based on one book. How do you know that Ms. Mensendieck exercises were her own and not “borrowed” from others and other books of her time and before her time? Same goes for the ideas on naturalism your assuming Joe read one book and then totally “Borrowed” from it? what Proof do you have to make the definitive statements you do above? It appears that it is just conjuncture and this is how stories about Joe get started when in fact they may not be true. I respect that you have done lots of research into the history of Joe but you need to do a lot more into the history of exercises, naturalism before you should make such claims in my opinion.
Hi Sean,
actually I did not only do research about Joe Pilates himself, but also about the lively and prosperous scene of body culture in Germany. Bess Mensendieck was a huge player in that scene and I recommend her two books on which I based my assumptions – “Körperkultur des Weibes” (1906) and “Funktionelles Frauenturnen” (1923) – to everybody interested in the roots of the Pilates method. Of course she didn’t come out of thin air herself. She was influenced by Genevieve Stebbins’ reading of the Delsarte system for instance. But it was her medical expertise that allowed her to develop an independent and inspiring exercising method.
Best, Eva
You make self-serving assumptions that have no basis is fact.
Hi Michael, my assumptions are based on a close reading of Bess Mensendieck’s books, my research about body culture in Germany and about Joseph Pilates’ work. Best, Eva
Fascinating! Can’t wait to read your book, wish I could read it in German (my family is Austrian and German but I never learned) but I’ll have to wait until it is translated into English. I am so interested in the culture that led Joseph Pilates to create his method. I love seeing these photos of Bess Mensendieck’s exercises. Thank you for your research, I believe more information about the influences that inspired and informed Joe’s work should only enrich our understanding, love and devotion to our Pilates practice. My best to you.
Thank you so much Kristen! I hope there will be English version of the book soon, so that you can read it! Thank you for what you wrote about influences: you found exactly the right words! All the best, Eva
A really fascinating hypotesis, with strong and sounding evidences! The photographs in Bess Mensendieck book’s could not be more eloquent. I also completely agree with your idea of Geneviève Stebbins’ influence on Mensendieck. I often wondered how and through which channels, Joseph Pilates’ work and method could be linked to the Korperkultur, widespread in Germany at the beginning of the XIX century. Yours is a very good answer to my question and an interesting trace of what could have been a crucial influence in his forming years. I’m preparing a short radio program about Joseph Pilates for Rai Radio 3 (the third channel of the Italian State Radio company) which will be broadcasted on December 9th, on Pilates birthday 🙂 and I will certainly quote your interesting hypoytesis and your book. I do hope the book will be shortly available in English too. Thank you for the English version of your blog, as well. Best regards Donatella Bertozzi (dance critic and dance historian)
Korperkultur.. XIX Century… bleah!!!
XX century, of course! 🙂