Pilates, pronounced  "Pih - LAH - Teez", is a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century during the First World War by Joseph Pilates^. It was created with the proposal to improve the rehabilitation program for the many returning veterans. Joseph Pilates believed mental and physical health are essential to one another. He recommended a few, precise movements emphasizing control and form to aid injured soldiers in regaining their health by strengthening, stretching,and stabilizing key muscles. Pilates created "The Pilates Principles" to condition the entire body: proper alignment, centering, concentration, control, precision, breathing, and flowing movement.

As of 2005 there are 11 million people who practice the discipline regularly and 14,000 instructors in the United States.

Pilates called his method Contrology, because he believed his method uses the mind to control the muscles.The program focuses on the core postural muscles which help keep the body balanced and which are essential to providing support for the spine. In particular, Pilates exercises teach awareness of breath and alignment of the spine, and aim to strengthen the deep torso muscles.

"I must be right. Never an aspirin. Never injured a day in my life. The whole country, the whole world, should be doing my exercises. They'd be happier." --Joseph Hubertus Pilates, in 1965, age 86