If workout plans were actresses, the it-girl of the moment would be Pilates. Designed to give you the long, lean muscles of a ballet dancer and the strength of a power-lifter, Pilates (pronounced puh-LAH-teez) is a hit among celebrities and regular Joes and Janes across the country and the world.

In 1894, Joseph Hubertus Pilates, born with multiple diseases, began to study anatomy and exercise to develop something new. During World War I, J.H. Pilates, worked with bedridden patients to keep their muscles strong with limited range of motion. In 1926, he brought the exercises to New York City and opened the first Pilates studio. A captive audience in the United States was found, first among ballet dancers and athletes.

So why is Pilates becoming a hit now? Celebrities. When Daisy Fuentes, Vanessa Williams, Halle Berry and even a character on “Sex and the City” name-drop Pilates when asked how they get their bodies, a new generation of Pilates fans were born. Who wouldn’t want Fuentes’ butt or a “Sex and the City” stomach?

Unlike aerobics, the sweat-fueled cardio-craze of the 80’s, Pilates is about fewer, more-precise movements instead of many repetitions of strenuous motions. Most of Pilates exercises can be done with only a mat and simple equipment in a studio. One piece of the modern equipment is based on a hospital bed and utilizes simple springs for resistance.

“Pilates builds muscles and strength without you knowing it,” said Matt Terrell, a college student in Georgia. “You really don’t think you’re doing strenuous exercise, but you can tell that your body is changing for the better.”

Jessica Talisman, owner of ReForm Pilates in Portland, Ore. said “Pilates has a structural foundation. The first foundation is to achieve symmetry and balance in the body.” Talisman explained that everyone’s body compensates for things differently, which restricts their movement. Through Pilates, you can build a more balanced body that will ultimately lead to greater overall strength.

First, Talisman said, you build your core strengths. Once you build the right muscles to align your body properly, Pilates becomes a part of how you move in everyday life.

“Your body mechanics change,” Talisman said. “Basically you can work your core in everything you do.”

The first place people see change in their bodies is in the abdominal area. Over time, people can resolve many pain symptoms through the strength gained from Pilates exercises.

Pilates also focuses your mind, according to Talisman. By seeing the results of making small, simple movements for big results in your body, you can retrain your mind similarly, so you aren’t wasting valuable mental energy on things that can be effectively resolved simply.

So, if you’re looking for a get-thin-quick scheme, Pilates probably isn’t for you. But if you’re looking for a way to change your entire body and life for the better, maybe you should try checking out a local Pilates studio. Call first and ask some questions about the instructors and their training. The growing popularity of Pilates has diluted the market, and a lot of studios may not have properly-trained instructors.

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This article was originally published in Flossin Magazine. This article is edited by Edna Waters. This article is optimized for web by Steven Christian (Artist | Author | Podcaster).

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