| Pilates, originally called "Contrology" is a method of | | | | precision, centering, breathing, and smooth flowing |
| exercise that has been endorsed and used by many | | | | movements. |
| celebrities in Hollywood. While this fitness program | | | | In Pilates, the core muscles consist of the lower |
| has been around for about 80 years (invented by | | | | back, hips, abdomen, and buttocks. Pilates called |
| Joseph Pilates, a gymnast who designed these | | | | these, the "powerhouse" of the body. Ironically, the |
| exercises for returning World War I veterans), it has | | | | core muscles in Pilates are now referred to as just |
| only recently become extremely popular with the | | | | "The Core". Once the core is aligned and a proper |
| American public simply because of the celebrities that | | | | breathing technique is achieved, it will take less |
| have been attributing their perfect figures to this | | | | energy to move the other parts of the body in a |
| German fitness system. | | | | controlled and focused manner. |
| Pilates helps to strengthen the body's core muscles | | | | Pilates is made up of over 30 exercises, all requiring |
| (especially the torso muscles), which help to improve | | | | the utmost precision, control, and focus. If done |
| balance and thus supports the spine. It also helps to | | | | correctly, students of Pilates will find that their |
| improve awareness of proper breathing, and aligns | | | | everyday activities will look more graceful and fluid. It |
| the spine. Pilates believed that the physical health was | | | | also helps to tone the core muscles and the muscles |
| directly related to mental health, and that by | | | | in the body's extremities. It is a fantastic way of |
| strengthening one, it improved the other. The overall | | | | losing weight, building muscle tone, and creating a |
| system consists of focusing on alignment, control, | | | | stronger, leaner, and more focused body. |