Even if you’re vaguely familiar with the term Pilates from the gym, magazine articles or friends, you still might be asking yourself, “What is Pilates?” If you’re looking for a new way to work out that improves flexibility and strengthens your muscles, you might want to give it a try. Pilates is a deceptively simply looking total-body workout program that uses core back and abdominal work to build strength. Its growing popularity has resulted in a long list of devoted followers, including Hollywood stars, fitness experts and professional athletes.

Joseph Pilates
The eponymous system of Pilates was created by Joseph Pilates, a native of Germany who, after having a sickly childhood, grew passionate about creating health and wellness in the body. The system of exercise he created is one that he called “contrology," which requires focused attention and concentration on core strength, stretching and breathing.

Pilates brought his exercises to veterans returning from World War I to support their physical rehabilitation and used springs taken from their hospital beds to assist them in performing the movements. These springs inspired some of the Pilates exercise equipment used today.

Borrowing from some of the principles of yoga, like dynamic tension, the Pilates program revolutionized the field of physical rehabilitation and it was soon after that Joseph Pilates realized his techniques could be used by anyone looking to build strength and improve flexibility.

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