15/03/2026
Happy Motherâs Day to the Mother of Pilates, the absolutely incredible Clara Pilates. đđ»
Pilates wouldnât be what it is today without Claraâs passion and dedication. She continued to teach and run the studio after Josephâs passing, and worked especially with the first generation of teachers Joe had chosen to continue his method. She even gave us the Clara Step Barrel, her very own creation used in Pilates studios across the world. Her kindness, maternal instincts and forward thinking made her a formidable teacher and founder.
In an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, published 24th July 1972, Clara says âJoe and I met on a boat coming to this country from Germany. We talked so much about health and the need to keep the body healthy. We decided to open a physical fitness studio with apparatus which we invented. I was trained as a nursery and kindergarten teacher. All my life I have thought of myself as a mother. I was the oldest in a family of nine, and people have always felt they could depend upon me like a nurse. This work came naturally to me.â
Thank you Clara, for all the love you put into your work and your students. We hope weâre making you proud. đ€