Joseph Pilates who devised the technique, himself trained in various forms of exercise such as martial arts gymnastics and self defence. The movements Joseph was actually trained in were brought together to form a series of movements for people for rehabilitation, at the end of the First World War Joseph was repatriated to America, his first choice .From there he developed his skills that he developed within the prisoner of war camp which had been so successful working with people with remedial problems with the help of his wife Clara. It was whilst in New York City he was originally contacted by the New York Ballet to come up with a series of movements that could bring dancers back to full fitness after being injured and the studio based Pilates is actually part of the original syllabus for Pilates. Pilates takes up many forms and styles of teaching these days. Ho myself prefer to maintain the original concept to Pilates within the studio,