Pilates was originally called contrology by its founder, Joseph Pilates. Of German and Greek descent, Joseph Pilates emigrated to the United States in the early 1900s and opened a studio in New York City where he and his wife, Clara, taught his particular exercise method. Pilates' concept was to focus on core postural muscles to support the spine for correct alignment, an approach adopted by hospital rehabilitation programs ever since.

Recently, Pilates has become very popular with the general public, particularly with those looking for a gentle method of increasing core strength, flexibility, and movement.

Pilates is typically taught in health clubs, where private or semiprivate instruction is available on special Pilates equipment or group mat classes that are conducted without equipment. Pilates uses the resistance of the body to condition and correct itself, with the goal of lengthening and aligning the spine.

Like yoga, Pilates offers a low-impact form of strengthening and toning muscles while helping you get more in tune with your body.