Clara Pilates
- May 9, 2024
- 1 min read
The New York Times Archives
CLARA PILATES, TEACHER OF CONTROLOGY EXERCISE
May 14, 1977
Clara Pilates, who taught an exercise system popular with leading film stars, dancers and musicians, died yesterday in St. Clare's Hospital. She was 95 years old.
The Pilates method of contrology was founded by her husband, the late Joseph Pilates, who came to the United States in 1926 with his wife, a nurse, from Germany. Together they founded the Joseph H. Pilates Universal Gymnasium.
Their clients included Yehudi Menuhin, the violinist; Lauren Bacall, the actress; Ruth St. Denis, the modern‐dance pioneer, and others. George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins of the New York City Ballet, as well as many of the company's dancers, such as Suzanne Farrell, followed the Pilates system.
Four years ago, the studio moved from its original location at 939 Eighth Avenue, to 29 West 56th Street.
Miss St. Denis once said of contrology, “Not only is the body rejuvenated, but the mental and spiritual refreshment is beyond calculation.”
Mrs. Pilates leaves two brothers, Fritz and Otto Zeuner, and a sister, Sonny Freudenberg. Services will be held Mon, day at 11:30 A.M. at Frank E. Campbell's, Madison Avenue and 81st Street.
Clara Zeuner (aka Clara Pilates)
Around 1925, Pilates immigrated to the United States. On the ship to America, he met his future wife Clara. The couple founded a studio in New York City and directly taught and supervised their students well into the 1960s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Pilates
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