The Pilates method of exercise trains the mind and body to work together to master the muscles.

Born in Germany in 1880, Joseph H. Pilates was a frail child plagued with asthma and rickets. As a young man he began experimenting with exercises to strengthen his body. He called his method the Art of Contrology because of the focus on controlling the muscles to master them.

He used his method to rehabilitate injured soldiers during the first World War. Experimenting with springs attached to hospital beds, he enabled his patients to start applying movement and resistance to their muscles. He then developed specialized spring-based equipment, an essential component of Pilates apparatus today.

In the 1920's Pilates brought his method to New York where it was embraced by professional dancers at his conditioning gym. For 50 years Joseph H. Pilates maintained a small yet loyal following of dancers, elite athletes and fitness enthusiasts.

Today, a growing number of fitness experts and sports trainers are using Pilates exercises with individual clients and classes. The International Association of Fitness Professionals has seen an increase of more than 35% since 1997 in the number of facilities offering Pilates programs.