Phyllis ParkerJoseph H. Pilates is the founder of the Pilates method of body conditioning. Joe was born in Germany in 1880. As a child he suffered from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever. This was the beginning of his lifetime pursuit of physical fitness. In his determination to strengthen his body, he observed different styles of exercise: Greek and Roman regimens along with Zen and yoga. He believed "Physical fitness to be the first requisite of happiness". And that, "our interpretation of physical fitness is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind, fully capable of naturally, easily and satisfactorily performing our many and varied daily tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure."