Joseph Pilates (1883-1967) immigrated to the United States from Germany around 1925. Thereafter, he and his wife Clara, opened a fitness studio in New York City, where he taught an exercise regimen that he named Contrology. The routine primarily focused on core strength using either a mat, a reformer, or one of several other machines invented by him. Sometime after his death in 1967, his exercises became known as Pilates.

Joseph Pilates was 61 years old in this film.