February, 2026
“…a sound mind housed in a sound body gives one 100 percent balance.” Your Health by Joseph H. Pilates
Read that quote again. Then answer a couple of questions as they apply to your life, based on what Joseph Pilates had to say about finding balance in life.
First, is this statement truthful? Does achieving a sound mind and a sound body give you balance in your life? He is implying that this balance is one of the keys to a successful and fulfilling life, or, as he notes in his introduction in Your Health, the “… ultimate goal – health and happiness.”
Second, where are you on this continuum of balance? Are you mentally healthy, as shown by how you relate to others, your self-esteem, and your intelligence? Obviously, Pilates felt that his method of exercise was the path to a sound, physically fit body. Are you as active as you want to be? Exercise such as Pilates, strength training, running, walking, and swimming can help you achieve the goal of being physically fit.
The philosopher John Locke is credited with noting in 1693 that a sound mind in a sound body fosters character development. Just a few years before Joseph Pilates! I always say, Joseph Pilates did not invent exercise. However, he did put it together in a unique system that can provide us with maximum benefits. And even though it is an exercise method, the mental benefits are ingrained through regular practice. Perhaps we can move closer to achieving a better balance in life.
The goal of achieving a sound mind and sound body was introduced to Joseph Pilates as a young child when his father was a member of a fitness club known as the Turnverein.
Joseph’s father, Fritz, brought his son to the club, where he learned a variety of exercises, many of which were based on German gymnastics and boxing.
In the United States, the Turnverein organization became known as the Turners Clubs, utilizing the same motto and philosophy. These clubs were present in every major city, including New York, and Joseph Pilates may have been aware of them. Again, exercise was not new to Joseph Pilates, but what he did with it became a worldwide phenomenon that we can all benefit from.
First photo from the Monchengladbach archives. Second photo from New York Turnverein.
Cathy Strack has been practicing and teaching the traditional Pilates method since 2001. Before her career in Pilates, she was a group exercise instructor and personal trainer. These careers evolved from her desire to incorporate healthy movement into her daily life while working as a licensed mental health counselor. Cathy has written two books, one about Romana Kryzanowska and one about Joseph Pilates. She is considered a leading historian in the Pilates community. This blog is just another way to share her research and insight based on her findings.
