Pilates was developed by German fitness trainer Joseph Pilates (1880-1967) as an exercise method to improve posture, tone the body, correct muscle imbalances and connect body and mind.

Pilates is very safe and is medically approved. It does not build bulky muscles, instead building strength and improving flexibility. It achieves this by working from the inside out, building what is termed 'core stability'. Pilates exercises focus on precision, control and quality of movement. Your age and condition do not matter. It can work for you.

Pilates is now widely used in the world of sport by top athletes for strength, flexibility and injury prevention. It is widely used in rehabilitation and is a wonderful exercise programme for those who are merely out of shape and just want to improve their fitness level. Improving your level of fitness doesn't have to involve the boring and mindless repetitiveness demanded by many exercise disciplines. Pilates should never be boring.

Pilates should be neither competitive nor comparative. You should perform the exercises just for yourself and nobody else.

Devotees of the Pilates method include:

Jennifer Aniston Catherine Bell Pat Cash Kim Catrall Kim Coles Joan Collins Courtney Cox Cindy Crawford Michael Crawford Jamie Lee Curtis Susan Dey Minnie Driver Daisy Fuentes Danny Glover Hugh Grant Shalom Harlow Cleveland Indians Jessica Lange

Lucy Lawless Madonna Carrie-Anne Moss Martina Navratalova Gwyneth Paltrow Sarah Jessica Parker Stefanie Powers San Francisco 49ers Martha Stewart Rod Stewart Sting Sharon Stone Uma Therman Patrick Swayze Charlize Theron Tina Turner Vanessa Williams Kristi Yamaguchi