Issue #487-488
Wednesday, May 6 and 13, 2026
Singers at Joseph Pilates Studio
– by Jonathan Grubb
The Pilates Method of exercise is widely known to have been historically synonymous with the dance world. However, it is less well known that many professional singers also went to Joe’s studio. Whilst dancers often initially went to Joe to seek help with injuries, the singers generally attended Joe’s two or three times each week for strength and conditioning work.
William Herman was a very successful voice teacher to the stars of the day in New York. William sent many singers to Joe’s studio, and for one singer mentioned in this article, he insisted that she went to Joe’s in order for William to continue with their voice teaching. Details of some of the more well-known singers and their interaction with Pilates are shared below.
Elaine Malbin (1929)
In 2021, I was very fortunate to speak with Elaine Malbin, a former opera singer, who said she attributes both her longevity and her successful career to her Pilates training. Having been told she was too small and not strong enough to become a successful soprano, her persistence and determination proved her critics wrong.
An article in the Pittsburgh Sunday Telegraph, dated 11 August 1956, describes just how determined and dedicated Elaine was, and the relevant part reads as follows:
“She spends from one to two hours a day at calisthenics in Pilates’ New York City Gym. She still takes daily voice lessons from William Herman, who’s also taught Roberta Peters and Jan Peerce, and dramatic lessons are a must. She studies foreign languages more intently than if she were a Rhodes scholar, Sometimes, when she’s roller-coasted up and down enough scales for Herman, he knocks off for a cup of coffee and Elaine grabs some wall pulleys and yanks vigorously on them. “Gives the voice power”, she explains.”
Roberta Peters (1930 – 2017)
Jonathan Grubb was born in England in 1962 and has lived on the Isle of Man since he was two years old. His great grandfather Jakob Grub was interned on the Isle of Man until 28 August 1919 in the same camp as Joseph Pilates.
In his younger days Jonathan was a keen amateur sportsman and particularly excelled at football (soccer), representing the Isle of Man in international games on numerous occasions. An anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained towards the end of his playing days led him to discover Pilates and he has been a passionate practitioner ever since. He has traveled to various countries to attend conferences and courses and been fortunate to be mentored by very experienced local teachers.
Having previously been an advanced instructor for several years in the Wu family style of tai chi chuan, Jonathan is currently studying to become a Pilates teacher with MKPilates and his teaching has been enthusiastically welcomed in classes throughout the island already. More on the story of Knockaloe Internment Camp can be found at knockaloe.im
Checkout Jonathon’s Facebook page Joseph’s Legacy – Pilates 100 +!