What is it?

A low-impact way to condition your body. Pronounced "pah-LAH-tees," this movement-based exercise technique incorporates aspects of martial arts, yoga, dance, and gymnastics. Joseph Pilates created the method for dancers after WWII but now, anyone can benefit from the workout.

Benefits:

Pilates can strengthen the "core" muscles of the body--the abdomen, back, and buttocks--without stressing joints and ligaments. The concept is that if the center is strong, the whole body will move efficiently. The result is more strength and stability, greater range of motion, flexibility, and muscle balance.

But it's a good exercise for healthy people, and is often recommended for back and neck pain, arthritis, scoliosis, disc herniation, shoulder problems, and knee and other joint injuries. It may also help prevent further injury. Pilates works the deep abdominal muscles (as well as or better than basic sit-ups or crunches), which may help correct the underlying weakness that contributes to some back problems.

Tomorrow I will take you through some pilates exercises. Below is a picture of a piece of Pilates equipment and a woman demonstrating "the saw"on a mat.