Pilates was created by Joseph H. Pilates, born in Germany. He grew up a sickly child afflicted with asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever. His father was a prize-winning gymnast, while his mother was a naturopath, who believed in the principal of stimulating the body to heal itself without artificial drugs. This greatly influenced Pilate's later ideas on therapeutic exercises. Joseph lived a very interesting life, and how it came together as Pilates, is a long history therefore, I will just give you the basics.
When World War I started he was sent to the hospitals to help with the wounded and bedridden soldiers. He took springs from the beds and created such exercises that the soldiers were able to exercise from their beds, now known as the "Reformer" and "Cadillac", he turned over chairs and pulled springs out and called it "Wonder Chair" but because of his heavy accent people thought he was saying "Wunda Chair". Joseph Pilates was considered a genius before his time. He immigrated to the United States, and opened his own Studio in New York. His studio catered mostly to injured dancers, athletes, and the elite, they went there for rehabilitation. Since then, Pilates has grown by leaps and bounds.
and is not a part of nor affiliated with the City of Chino Hills.