Pilates has become one of most popular exercise methods today. It is characterized by different movements with a wide range of levels of difficulty. Its basic principles focus on promoting balance, correcting wrong postures, restore physical vitality, invigorating the mind and elevating the spirit. Founded by Joseph Pilates who himself suffered debilitating condition in his younger years, Pilates is an exercise that is marked by breathing and poses done at various angles, sometimes with the help of special Pilates equipment.

Pilates wasn't a healthy child. He was prey to a host of illnesses that left him wanting to achieve the peak of health. His bouts with rickets, rheumatic fever and asthma sparked him to look for exercises that would alleviate his condition. Through the Pilates exercises that now bear his name, he has helped others take the responsibility towards realizing their goals for better health and wellness.

When Joseph Pilates introduced his form of workout in New York in the late 1920s, dancers were his first clients. His influence began to spread among sportspeople as well. He was held in such high regard among the New York dance community that by the 1950s, every dancer had made Pilates exercises part of their training under his instruction.

Now, Pilates has gone mainstream. Adults from all walks of life, whether they lead sedentary or active lifestyles, have become hooked to this very popular exercise regimen. Aside from Hollywood celebrities that include Jodie Foster, Madonna and Hugh Grant, regular folks striving to undo bad postural habits, athletes and individuals on the road to recovery from injuries have found solace in Pilates.

Because Pilates exercises are virtually low-impact and gentle, individuals who suffer from back pain caused by poor posture or bad habits and those struggling to recover from sports-related and repetitive strain injuries find a rehabilitative program anchored in its principles to be all they need to heal completely. Chronic pain that does not respond to pharmacologic approaches gets relieved with a regular Pilates workout. Osteopaths regularly refer patients to Pilates as an adjunct to the therapy they receive.

Pilates has not only gone mainstream because of its physical benefits. Being a mind-body technique, it has also been found to be beneficial for those seeking to alleviate themselves from the pains and anxieties caused by stress and depression. Together with Yoga, it is one of the more popular mind-body techniques recommended by mental health professionals for those with these kinds of mental and emotional issues. In fact, otherwise healthy individuals find Pilates to be an antidote for the everyday stresses encountered at work and in relationships.

Because Pilates takes a lot of concentration, focus and patience to learn, it is not a workout regimen that children find appealing. Its principles, however, may be employed in PE classes in schools to serve as a sort of preventive measure for young children as it teaches the development of correct posture and breathing. Whereas Pilates exercises are used by most adults as a form of rehabilitative therapy to correct bad habits, Pilates-based workouts can teach formative young minds not to engage in these debilitating practices.