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Pilates: The Original Prison Workout?

Writer's picture: Sheela CheongSheela Cheong

When people think of Pilates, they often imagine elegant movements performed in serene studios. Few know, however, that this transformative exercise system has roots in much grittier circumstances: a prison camp during World War I.


Joseph Pilates in a prison camp doing a seated spine stretch (classic Pilates mat exercise) with springs attached to the bedframe

Joseph Pilates, the founder of Pilates, not only developed his method behind barbed wire but also used it to help his fellow prisoners maintain their health and strength in a time of extreme hardship. Understanding the origins of Pilates reveals its true essence as a practice born out of resilience, innovation, and survival.


Joseph Pilates in prison camp, strengthening his neck with springs attached to the bed frame

What Is The History Of Pilates As A Prison Workout?

1. Why was Joseph Pilates imprisoned during World War I? Was he a criminal, or was it related to his nationality?


Joseph Pilates was a German national living in England when World War I began. Like many Germans in Britain at the time, he was interned as an "enemy alien." This was not due to any crime but because of his nationality.


2. What was life like in the internment camp he was in?


Pilates spent over four years in the Knockaloe Internment Camp on the Isle of Man. Conditions were basic and overcrowded, with limited access to resources and poor health among prisoners due to inactivity and confinement.




3. How did being in a prison camp influence the creation of Pilates?


The harsh conditions inspired Pilates to focus on improving physical and mental health. He developed exercises that required no equipment, emphasising core strength, control, and mindful movement to counteract the physical deterioration caused by inactivity.


4. What conditions or challenges in the camp inspired his exercises?


The prisoners’ sedentary lifestyle and deteriorating health motivated Pilates to create routines that could be performed in small spaces, using body weight and minimal resistance.


5. Did he have access to any equipment, or was everything improvised?


Pilates improvised by using bed frames and springs to create resistance-based exercises. This innovation laid the groundwork for Pilates equipment like the Reformer.





6. Who were the people Pilates worked with in the camp? Were they fellow prisoners, injured soldiers, or others in need of rehabilitation?


Pilates worked primarily with fellow prisoners. Some were injured or in poor health, and his exercises helped rehabilitate them, improving their strength and mobility.


7. How did they respond to his exercises, and what results did they experience?


Those who followed Pilates’ routines reportedly regained strength, flexibility, and overall vitality. His methods were highly regarded for their rehabilitative effects.


8. What exercises did Pilates develop during his internment? Are any of the exercises we practice today directly linked to those he created in the camp?


Many foundational Pilates mat exercises, such as the Hundred and the Roll-Up, have roots in the routines he developed during his internment.


9. How did he adapt movements to work for people with injuries or limited mobility?


Pilates focused on low-impact, controlled movements that could be tailored to individual needs, ensuring exercises were accessible to people with various limitations.


10. Is it true that Pilates used bed springs to create exercise equipment? How did he come up with the idea, and what did this lead to in the development of Pilates equipment?


Yes, Pilates attached bed springs to frames to create resistance for bedridden patients. This innovation eventually inspired the design of modern Pilates apparatus like the Reformer and Cadillac.



Why is Pilates Referred to as a "Prison Workout"?

The term "prison workout" is often associated with Joseph Pilates’ internment during World War I, where he developed the foundation of his method while confined in the Knockaloe Internment Camp. Comparing Pilates to a typical "prison workout" reveals key similarities and differences, both in purpose and execution.


What is a Prison Workout?


A prison workout generally refers to fitness regimens developed by incarcerated individuals with minimal or no equipment. The goals of a prison workout often include:


Maintaining Physical Health: Combatting the physical stagnation of confined spaces.


Building Strength and Resilience: Enhancing physical power for personal confidence and sometimes self-defense.


Using Limited Resources: Exercises are typically bodyweight-based, like push-ups, squats, and pull-ups on improvised equipment.


Joseph Pilates performing The Hundred (classic mat exercise) in his prison hospital bed. He is holding springs in his hands which are attached to the bedframe.

Pilates in the Internment Camp: Goals and Purpose

Joseph Pilates’ exercises shared some similarities with modern prison workouts but were rooted in a different philosophy. His primary goals were:


Rehabilitation and Recovery: Helping injured and ill prisoners regain strength and mobility.


Mind-Body Connection: Emphasizing controlled movements, alignment, and breathing.


Preventative Health: Pilates believed his exercises could prevent physical decline and improve immunity—particularly vital in a camp setting with poor conditions.



 


SIMILARITIES Between Pilates and Prison Workouts

Adaptation to Confinement: Both were born out of necessity in restrictive environments. Pilates used small spaces and improvised equipment, much like prison workouts.


Bodyweight Focus: Pilates exercises in the camp utilised bodyweight as resistance, similar to classic prison workout moves like push-ups and planks.


Goal of Physical Maintenance: Both methods aim to counteract the physical deterioration caused by inactivity.



DIFFERENCES Between Pilates and Prison Workouts

Philosophy: Prison workouts often focus on brute strength and endurance, emphasizing functional power.

Pilates prioritizes precision, core strength, flexibility, and balance, with an emphasis on mindful movement and control.


Rehabilitation vs. Strength: Pilates was designed to rehabilitate injured or weakened individuals, focusing on alignment and gradual progress. Prison workouts often aim for maximum physical output, with less emphasis on alignment or injury prevention.


Innovative Equipment: Pilates improvised resistance training by using bed springs, which became the prototype for modern Pilates equipment like the Reformer. Prison workouts rely on completely improvised setups, such as pull-ups on door frames or using towels for resistance.


Mind-Body Connection: Pilates emphasises breathing and mindfulness as integral to the exercises, aiming to strengthen both physical and mental health. While prison workouts can have mental health benefits, they generally lack this intentional mind-body integration.



Joseph Pilates performing SAW (classic mat exercise) in prison hospital bed, with straps and springs attached to his feet

Conclusion: How Accurate is the Term?

Calling Pilates a "prison workout" oversimplifies its purpose and philosophy. While it shares similarities with fitness regimens created in confined spaces, Pilates was fundamentally about restoring and optimizing health through a methodical, mindful approach.


The term does highlight Pilates’ resourcefulness and adaptability under difficult conditions, but his method transcended its origins. Unlike typical prison workouts, Pilates laid the groundwork for a sophisticated and intentional system of movement that remains relevant and transformative in modern fitness and rehabilitation contexts.



Pilates: A Practice for Resilience

The story of Pilates as a “prison workout” is a testament to its origins in resilience and innovation. Joseph Pilates turned adversity into an opportunity to create a method that could sustain and empower the human body under the harshest conditions.


From its beginnings in a prison camp to its current reputation as a global fitness phenomenon, Pilates remains rooted in its original purpose: to build strength, restore balance, and enhance well-being.


Understanding this history not only challenges misconceptions about Pilates as a “gentle” or “feminine” practice but also highlights its potential to transform lives in any circumstance.


The next time you step onto a mat or use a reformer, remember its origins and the strength of the man who turned a prison camp into the birthplace of a revolutionary movement system.





 



References:


'The exercise phenomenon born in a prisoner-of-war', National Geographic, 29 Nov 2021.


'Joseph Pilates: The Legacy of Pilates and his time at Knockaloe', Extracted from Facebook page established by Jonathan Grubb “Joseph's Legacy - Pilates 100 +”

Date accessed 15 May 2016


'Pilates inventor honoured with giant class at Manx WW1 internment camp', 10 Sept 2016.



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