Invented by German born Joseph Pilates (pronounced Pi-la-tees) some 70 years ago, the original total body conditioning program was defined as "Contrology". Contrology was the basic fundamental of the Pilates' Method consisting of 34 mat work exercises. "Return to Life through Contrology" was originally published in 1945. The inventive German instructor taught his students to believe that "contrology exercise develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong postures, restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit." In 1920 this revolutionary method of physical and mental conditioning was brought to the United States. By 1940 Mr. Pilates had his own studio on Eighth Avenue in New York City. Many new students flocked to his sessions, dancers in particular. His techniques allowed dancers to perform at new levels of expertise and also to extend the time they could continue to dance. Other professions and just heath conscious people benefited from his methodology too.

Following his death, rights to the Pilates' name were sold. Sean Gallagher acquired the original contrology studio and exercise instruction service marks in August of 1992. Gallagher immediately set out to monopolize the Pilates surname and restrict who could teach the method. He filed suits with several companies intimidating hundreds of fitness instructors into paying yearly fees to him.

In 1996 Gallagher sued Balanced Body, the world's largest manufacturer of  Pilates equipment. On October 2000 a decision in Manhattan's federal court declared that Pilates was ruled generic, similar to yoga. This was indeed a victory for the fitness community as well as the general public.

Joseph Pilates died in 1967 at the the age of 87. "I am fifty years ahead of my time," Joe had claimed. His inspiring and beneficial work--contrology, now commonly know as Pilates--will live on forever bequeathed to the world with love.