The History of The Original Pilates Studio in the Berkshires
In 1948, Joseph Pilates purchased around 56 acres of property from Clarence Thompson, which was nearby Jacob’s Pillow where he had been teaching his now-famous Pilates mat classes for several years on and off. His plan was to build a studio and training center where people could come to study and practice Contrology with him. At the time, the only building on the property was a small hunting shack. Photos first shared on 1/26/26.
Joe did manage to build his studio, and that’s not all. Over time, The Pilates also built a house of their own, added to the hunting shack to make it a guest house, built a carpenter’s shed, and gardens and paths around the property flourished.
When Joe died in 1967, he named Clara Pilates his sole beneficiary in his last will and testament. Clara later sold the property, which passed through subsequent ownership and went through a few sales of acreage.
In 1973, the original Pilates’ cottage came down and a new home was built in its place. The man who purchased the property sold off sections of acreage in 1987. In 1991, the remaining property again changed hands.
Photos first shared on 1/26/26.
©1997-2025 Richtone Design Group, LLC
©1997-2025 Richtone Design Group, LLC
Sean Gallagher’s (Bluestar Ent. Inc) purchase of the original pilates property in 1997 from Mangiarano.
1987, one of the times the original Berkshire 56-acre property was sold off in acreage.
Sale of the Pilates Berkshires Property from Kimball to Mangiarano in 1991.
Sean Gallagher’s (Bluestar Ent. Inc) purchase of the original pilates property in 1997 from Mangiarano.
Finally, in 1997 Sean Gallagher became the new owner of the property. It was no longer the original 56 acres of wooded land that Joe Pilates had bought back in 1948, it was now down to 21. However, these happen to be the most important acres where Joe and Clara Pilates dwelled- including the special studio that Joe built so long ago.
Of course, about 50 years had passed at that point, and the buildings and the precious items they contained were sorely in need of restoration. Over the years, Sean worked to maintain and rebuild it.
In 2018, Sean was joined by fellow teachers and supporters of Pilates history and a team effort ensued. Slowly but surely, the Joe’s Berkshires studio began to shine once again.
Today, Joe’s vision for people to visit and learn Contrology has finally come to fruition, thanks to Sean’s stewardship and the great effort of other teachers who have poured their hearts into helping make Joe’s dream a reality. Now, people from around the world can immerse themselves in this one-of-a-kind experience.
Related Topics: Pilates at the Pillow®
The History of the Original Pilates Studio in the Berkshires
In 1951, Joe Pilates’ was working on establishing his studio on his property in the Berkshires.
His studio contained apparatus, some of which he brought from his NYC studio, and other pieces that he had an in-house carpenter make for him.
Joe Pilates died in 1967, and as executor of his property, Clara Pilates then sold it all in 1969. Part of this sale included Joe’s studio building, and all its contents. Over several decades, property exchanged hands, and all the while Joe’s studio sat, with the apparatus locked inside.
Images first shared 1/26/26.
In 1997, Sean Gallagher purchased the property, the studio, its apparatus, and all the other contents. The following three pictures depict what Sean found when the studio door was unlocked and he stepped inside.
Joe’s original apparatus were still there, but in sad condition due to time, weather damage, and poor storage. The interior of the studio was water damaged and rotting.
Over the years and as time allowed, Sean removed the equipment to a safe place and started working the studio interior. In 2018, Sean and a group of other dedicated Pilates teachers who care about preserving Pilates history began meeting regularly to revitalize the studio interior and restore the original apparatus.
Photo taken in 1997 of what Sean found when he opened the door to the studio. ©1997-2026 Richtone Design Group, LLC.
Photo taken in 1997 of what Sean found when he opened the door to the studio. ©1997-2026 Richtone Design Group, LLC.
Photo taken in 1997 of what Sean found when he opened the door to the studio. ©1997-2026 Richtone Design Group, LLC.
2018, interior of the original pilates Berkshire studio after installing new windows and before the walls, ceiling, and floor was completed.
2018, an example of how we preserved original details from Joe’s design, such as the red trim from around the windows.
2021, the process of renovating the ceiling, walls, and flooring near completion.
2022, most of the studio renovation was complete, and most of the original, archival, and vintage apparatus was fully restored.
2018, an example of how we preserved original details from Joe’s design, such as the red trim from around the windows.
2024, The Original Clawfoot Reformer, after restoration.
2024, The Original Clawfoot Reformer, after restoration. At Pilates at The Pillow®, Pilates teachers from around the world travel to study and learn from this rare piece.
2018, the restoration of the original Pilates Bednasiums began.
2023, With the Bednasium fully restored, we can now study and learn from the rare archival apparatus designed by Joe Pilates.
2021, the process of restoring an original Pilates Chair.
2024, an original Pilates Chair, after restoration. At Pilates at The Pillow®, Pilates teachers from around the world travel to study and learn from this rare piece.
2021, the process of restoring an original Cadillac.
2024, an original Pilates Chair, after restoration. At Pilates at The Pillow®, Pilates teachers from around the world travel to study and learn from this rare piece.
2023, the fully renovated studio. Joe Pilates’ original studio in the Berkshires is now a functioning Pilates Museum/Studio where Pilates teachers from around the world visit to learn Pilates history from The Pilates Source®.
2024, Sean Gallagher sharing with Pilates at The Pillow® attendees, showing them Joe Pilates original library collection, which is housed at the Pilates Museum/Studio.
It took several years, and as you can see from the photos, the results are a clean look that not only now houses Sean’s Pilates Museum/Studio, but fits in with the studio’s wooded surroundings. At the same time, we preserved and saved details such as the original red trim that framed the windows.
Today, people from around the world visit and gather together joyfully, bringing Joe’s dream for this special studio space to fruition.
Related Topics: Original Pilates Apparatus Collections, Pilates at The Pillow®
New! A discovery about Joe and Clara Pilates’ property in the Berkshires! From the Pilates History Research Archive™
Through my recent research, I discovered an early 1950s classified advertisement placed by Joe and Clara in an attempt to rent out their Berkshires property.
It’s unclear as to whether they were trying to rent their guest house or their own house, although based on the wording of the ad- “complete privacy”- doesn’t sound like the Pilates’ were planning to be around either way.
It defines the building as a “cottage, which could describe both houses on the property, and they were both fully furnished. It explains that it comes with a lawn and garden, which we also know were features on the property.
Through these photos, we can learn more about the property layout and several of the buildings upon it, which were connected by a series of white-painted, cement block-lined paths. Buildings on the property at the time included The Pilates’ country house, their guest house, the Studio/Gym, and the carpenter’s shed.
Today, the property is owned by Sean Gallagher who, along with other history-focused pilates devotees, teachers, friends, and family, has worked tirelessly over several years to restore the original studio building and apparatus on the property (including the Bednasiums which are in the Pilates Museum’s stored collections) . Although the original Pilates’ home (not pictured here) and carpenter’s shed were no longer standing when he purchased the property, the guest house still stands and is next on the list for restoration.
Images first shared: 12/20/25.
Pilates History Research Archive™ Discovery: The Classified Ad. Image first shared 12/20/25.
Joe Pilates Berkshire Property – Joe building the gym. Image first shared 12/20/25.
Joe Pilates Berkshire Property – what we believe to be the Carpenter’s Shed. Image first shared 12/20/25.
Pictures from Joe Pilates’ Berkshire Property Guest House
Joseph Pilates in the front yard at the Berkshires property. Image first shared 12/20/25.
A garden scene at the Pilates Berkshire property. Colorized by Elaine Ewing. Image first shared 12/20/25.
The History of Ownership of the Pilates Studio Business
These snippets from the following contracts only touch on the full story, but as I was organizing all of this information for an ongoing project I’m working on about the history of the original Pilates studio business, I was excited to share the timeline for one specific and special reason. If you notice, over many decades, it was the students who stepped up to run the business when it was in need. These students were so profoundly affected by Joe’s work and saw its potential to grow. They were willing to invest not only their money, but their efforts, to keep it running. I find that really touching!
Images first shared 1/26/26.
In 1951, Joe Pilates wrote a will, leaving everything to Clara Pilates. Notice that he intentionally left nothing to his kids.
In 1970, Clara Pilates sold the business to a group of investors, who were also clients of the studio (known at the time as 939 Studio Corporation).
Later in 1984, the business was sold to Aris Isotoner Gloves, Inc. Yes- you read that right! In fact, the founder of Isotoner was also a client at the studio.
Then again in 1987, the business was again sold to Wee Tai Hom, who was a business man and a client at the studio himself.
Finally, in 1992, the pilates studio business was sold to Sean Gallagher, who started out as a client at the studio, and who is still the current owner.
