Joseph Hubertus Pilates grew up as a frail and sick child in Germany in the late 1800's. Determined to overcome his physical weakness, he developed a specialized technique of muscle control and movement to increase circulation and cardiovascular strength and rid the body of toxins. He taught this technique, now known as "matwork", to fellow inmates in a work camp. The 1918 influenza epidemic struck Europe at the same time. They were the only group at the camp to survive intact. While serving as a hospital orderly during World War I, Pilates attached bedsprings to the headboards of non-ambulatory patients and began exercising them with the springs as a support system. Doctors noticed that these patients improved more quickly than others. Joseph saw this as an opportunity and began the development of his program. In the mid-1920s Joseph Pilates emigrated to New York City, where he set up his first studio. Slowly, Pilates built his reputation and eventually opened a studio inside the famous Bendel's department store. The Pilates exercise program has become a favorite among dancers, performers, actors, celebrities, and socialites, but its true essence is valid for all walks of life. Joseph Pilates envisioned a system that would be incorporated into our physical education routine and thus become a part of daily life.