The whole world may not yet be turned on to Pilates, but certainly much of this country, as well as parts of Canada, Europe and Pan-Asia, are experiencing the explosion in demand for this method of exercise and physical movement designed to stretch, strengthen and balance the body. With systematic practice of specific exercises coupled with focused breathing patterns, Pilates has proven itself invaluable not only as a fitness endeavor itself, but also as an important adjunct to professional sports training and physical rehabilitation of all kinds. Widely embraced among dancers for years, the exercises – "elephant" and "swan," the language – "pull navel to spine and breeaaaathe," and the look – bright-eyed, refreshed, buoyant without necessarily sweating, are popping up in fitness classes, physical therapy offices, corporate retreats, luxury spas and wellness centers across the country.

When it is practiced faithfully, Pilates yields numerous benefits. Increased lung capacity and circulation through deep, healthy breathing is a primary focus. Strength and flexibility, particularly of the abdomen and back muscles, and coordination, both muscular and mental, are key components in an effective Pilates program. Posture, balance and core strength are all heartily increased. Bone density and joint health improve, and many people experience positive body awareness for the first time. Pilates teaches balance and control of the body, and that has positive effects on many other areas of one's life.

Around 1914, Joseph Pilates was a performer and a boxer living in England and, at the outbreak of World War I, was placed under forced internment along with other German nationals in Lancaster, England. There he taught fellow camp members the concepts and exercises developed over twenty years of self-study and apprenticeship in yoga, Zen and ancient Greek and Roman physical regimens. It was at this time that he began devising the system of original exercises known today as "matwork," exercises done on the floor. A few years later, he was transferred to another camp where he became a caretaker to the many internees struck with wartime disease and physical injury. Here he began devising equipment to rehabilitate the infirm by taking springs from the beds and rigging them to create spring resistance and offer movement to the bedridden

In a way, Pilates equipment today is not much different than that of yesteryear. Spring tension, straps to hold feet or hands and supports for back, neck and shoulders are important components in the proper execution of the exercises. Because of the remarkable nature of the equipment to both challenge and support the body as it learns to move more efficiently, the distinctively designed pieces act as a complement to the challenging matwork exercises.

While Joe was the outspoken force behind his method, his wife Clara quietly incorporated his concepts and exercises to benefit seriously ill or injured clients. A trained nurse, her approachable style and special techniques spawned a dedicated lineage of teachers whose work flows through and uniquely colors the landscape of the Pilates method today. It is perhaps because of Clara that Pilates is almost universally recognized as a positive form of movement-based exercise that truly can be tailored to any level of both fitness and health.

Long-time instructors who knew Joe maintain that he and Clara would be very happy and proud of the tremendous growth in popularity of Pilates. However, it is less clear how he might feel about the influx of "quickie certifications" available for would-be instructors wanting to be trained in a weekend or two. Joe worked at length with his own instructors, allowing them to assist and then finally teach after training and apprenticeships lasting as long as two or three years. As Joe said, "Patience and persistence are vital qualities in the ultimate successful accomplishment of any worthwhile endeavor." Comprehensively, competently trained and knowledgeable instructors are the essential element in realizing one's potential and enjoying the process of learning Pilates.

There is no doubt about it, the Pilates workout is here to stay. Joseph Pilates died in 1967 at age 87. The workout he created for himself delivered him from a frail childhood to live a strong life as an accomplished skier, diver and gymnast. The fitness program he developed will no doubt live a long and healthy life on its own.

To define, maintain and support the commitment to training and education of Pilates instructors, the Pilates Method Alliance™ was formed in 1999 as the nation's professional organization for the Pilates method of exercise. Members are required to participate in ongoing training and must provide documentation to remain in good standing. The PMA™ has set guidelines and recommendations for teacher training programs and is in the process of establishing a National Certification Exam for the Pilates Method. Visit their website at www.pilatesmethodalliance.org for more information.